What this calculator does
The follow-on is a option available in Test cricket when the team that batted first builds a big enough lead after both sides have batted once. Under the Laws of Cricket, in a Test match the batting-first side needs a lead of at least 200 runs to have the option of enforcing it, sending the opposition straight back in to bat again rather than batting a second time itself.
The follow-on rules in Test cricket are precise but often misunderstood: hitting the 200-run threshold gives the fielding captain a choice, not an obligation. Many captains with a lead well past 200 still choose to bat again anyway, usually to rest bowlers or extend the lead further before setting a target.
The formula
The calculator subtracts the second team’s first-innings total from the first team’s first-innings total to get the lead. If that lead is 200 runs or more, the follow-on is available as an option in a Test match; if it is below 200, it is not, regardless of how the match later unfolds.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lead | First team’s first-innings total minus the second team’s first-innings total. |
| Follow-on threshold | The minimum lead, 200 runs in a Test match, needed for the option to exist. |
| Enforcing the follow-on | The batting-first captain’s choice to make the opposition bat again immediately, rather than batting a second innings first. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Batting-first team’s first-innings total | The total scored by the team that batted first in their first innings. |
| Opposition’s first-innings total | The total scored by the opposition in reply, in their first innings. |
When to use it
Checking if a big first innings opens up the option
After a large first-innings total and a modest reply, this checks the exact margin against the 200-run threshold rather than guessing from memory.
Following a match where the gap looks close
When the two first-innings totals are within striking distance of 200 apart, this settles whether the follow-on is actually on the table.
Understanding why a team was not asked to follow on
A team can trail by a large amount and still not be short of the specific 200-run figure needed; this shows the exact shortfall.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the lead compares with the follow-on threshold
A fixed 450-run first innings, checked against a range of opposition totals in reply.
| Opposition first-innings total | Follow-on option | Lead after the first innings |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Yes, the lead meets the 200-run Test match threshold | 250 runs |
| 220 | Yes, the lead meets the 200-run Test match threshold | 230 runs |
| 240 | Yes, the lead meets the 200-run Test match threshold | 210 runs |
| 250 | Yes, the lead meets the 200-run Test match threshold | 200 runs |
| 260 | No, the lead is short of the 200-run Test match threshold | 190 runs |
| 280 | No, the lead is short of the 200-run Test match threshold | 170 runs |
Questions
What is a follow on in cricket?
It is the option, available to the side that batted first in a Test match once its lead reaches 200 runs, to send the opposition back in to bat a second innings immediately rather than batting again itself first.
Is enforcing the follow-on compulsory once the lead reaches 200?
No. Reaching the threshold only creates the option. The captain of the batting-first side decides whether to enforce it, and often chooses not to, particularly if bowlers need rest or the pitch favours batting last.
Does the 200-run threshold apply to all cricket, or just Tests?
This calculator is scoped to Test matches specifically, where the threshold is 200 runs. Shorter first-class and domestic matches use lower thresholds that vary with the number of days scheduled, which are not covered here.
What happens if the follow-on is enforced and then the second innings goes badly for the fielding side?
It is a known risk: if the side following on bats well enough in its second innings, the original bowling side can end up having to bat last on a worn pitch, which is part of why captains do not always enforce the follow-on even when they can.
For the underlying batting figures behind a big total, see the return on equity calculator for an unrelated but similarly precise fixed-threshold check, or browse the full calculator list for more sport tools.