The follow on rule in test cricket is governed by Law 14 of the MCC laws of cricket where a team batting first can force the team batting second to bat immediately if the team batting first has a lead of more than 200 runs.
For example, if Team A scored 400 runs in the first inning, then Team B must score at least 201 runs in the second inning to avoid the follow-on rule.
But if Team B fails to score 201 runs, then Team A’s captain has the opportunity to go with the follow on rule that forces Team B to bat immediately despite their batting second in the first inning.
The only motive of the rule is to enforce the result in the test cricket match and prevent a draw.
What happens in the case of India vs Australia’s 3rd test at Brisbane?
India won the toss and elected to bowl first at Brisbane after losing the pink ball test in the second test match by 10 wickets.
Batting first in the rain-interrupted game, Australia posted a massive total of 445 runs in 117.1 overs. Steve Smith equalized the record of Joe Root of most centuries against India with 10 centuries in his name.
Travis Head smashed his second consecutive century against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy after registering 3 back-to-back golden ducks at Gabba.
India, in the first inning, collapsed as the Australian pace attack once again troubled the top order of India, as Jaiswal, Kohli, Rohit, Pant, and Gill combined to score only 27 runs in the first inning.
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KL Rahul and Jadeja somehow stabilized the inning, but Rahul departed in the 43rd over after scoring 84 runs in 139 deliveries, and India lost their 6th wicket and were at risk of suffering the follow-on rule by Australia.
Jadeja also departed for 77 runs, and India was reduced to 213/9 in the final delivery of the 66th over, yet India was still 32 runs behind to avoid the follow on rule with only 1 wicket in hand.
The tail-batting end of India yet again demonstrated the batting abilities and did a 39-run partnership but also prevented India from the rule.
India was at 252/9 at the end of Day 4 with 1 wicket in hand. The match is most likely to be a draw, as the result seems impossible with 2 innings still left in the match and only 1 day remaining.
What would have happened if India bowled out before 245 runs according to follow on rule?
However, if India was bowled out before 245 runs, then the Aussies might go with the follow on rule that would put India into batting immediately in the second inning while still trailing by at least 200 runs.
India would have needed to chase the remaining run that they were previously trailing by and then set the target for the Kangaroos.
If India failed to chase the remaining runs, then the Aussies would have won by an inning, but if India set the target and the Aussies got a chance to chase the target, they needed to chase the target on the same Day 5 to prevent a draw and take the lead.
However, Jasprit Bumrah’s unbeaten 10 runs and Akash Deep’s unbeaten 27 runs in just 31 deliveries with a fantastic six have left every Indian supporter in ecstasy, including Virat Kohli and his team in the dugout.
What does Follow on Rule’s batting sequence look like?
| Normal | Follow on |
| Team A 1st Inning | Team A 1st Inning |
| Team B 1st Inning | Team B 1st Inning |
| Team A 2nd Inning | Team B 2nd Inning |
| Team B 2nd Inning | Team A 2nd Inning |
India has also taken advantage of the follow on rule in 2017 against Sri Lanka. Batting first in the Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium, India posted a total of 622 runs, losing 9 wickets, and declared the inning.
Sri Lanka, in the run chase, managed only 183 runs in the first inning, and India went with the follow on rule, Sri Lanka batted again, but this time they managed to get 386 runs but still had insufficient to make an impact in the match, and India won the match by an inning.
What’s your prediction for Day 5 in India vs Australia on the 5th day? Comment below