In this edition of “How’s That” we will look at another important aspect of the game, the Follow On. As we move along this law, we will be seeing the various amounts of runs needed to avoid the follow-on in cricket.
Lead on first innings
In a two-inning match of 5 days or more, the side which bats first and leads by at least 200 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings.
The same option shall be available in two-inning matches of shorter duration with the minimum leads as follows:
– 150 runs in a match of 3 or 4 days;
– 100 runs in a 2-day match;
– 75 runs in a 1-day match.
Notification
A captain shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of his/her intention to take up this option. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.
First day’s play lost
If no play takes place on the first day of a match of more than one day’s duration, 14.1 shall apply in accordance with the number of days remaining from the start of play. The day on which play first commences shall count as a whole day for this purpose, irrespective of the time at which play starts.
Play will have taken place as soon as, after the call of Play, the first over has started.
Questions
- In a two-day match, Side A scores 200 runs. How many runs must Side B score to AVOID the follow-on? Side B must score 100+1=101 runs to avoid the follow-on.
- In a three-day game Side A scores 400 runs. How many runs must Side B score to AVOID the follow-on? Side B must score 250+ 1= 251 runs to avoid the follow on.
- In a two-day game, the first day is washed out. The first ball is bowled on day two. Side A scores 200 runs. How many runs must Side B score to avoid the follow-on? Remember day one was washed out and play began on day two. As such Side B must score 125 +1 = 126 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Source: Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring (Law 13)
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