Follow-on rule in Test cricket and what happens if India does not score 246 runs against Australia in third Test?

India find themselves in a spot of bother on Day 4 in the third Test against Australia at GABBA, Brisbane. The visitors need 65 more runs to avoid follow-on as the score currently is 180/6.

Ravindra Jadeja (52) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (9) were at the crease. If India wants to save the follow-on, the two would have to score the bulk of those runs to get India to 246.



The rain has returned again in Brisbane and the players have gone back to the pavilion.

The follow-on law

India are still 265 runs behind, but a total score of 245 runs is what everyone is talking about. The answer lies in the follow-on law. According to MCC Law 14.1.1, "In a two-innings 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."

This means that if India do not get to 246 runs, Australia will have the opportunity to ask to come out to bat again. And if they can bowl them out under the required runs, they will the match by an innings; if not, they will come out to bat again.


If India manage to save the follow-on, it would be a major step towards saving the Test match as it would mean that Australia will have to come out to bat in their second innings and set India a target, which would take more time off this Test.

Follow-on may have gone out of fashion in the modern-day game, but it becomes extremely crucial in a Test match, where time is of importance.