Cricket Follow-On Calculator

Under MCC Law 14, the team batting first can enforce the follow-on if they lead by a certain number of runs after the opposition completes their first innings. In a five-day Test match, the threshold is 200 runs. The follow-on threshold varies depending on the match duration — 150 runs for four-day games, 100 runs for three-day, 75 runs for two-day, and 35 runs for one-day matches.

Subtract the second team's first innings total from the first team's first innings total. If that lead equals or exceeds the threshold for the match type (200 runs in a five-day Test), the team batting first may enforce the follow-on. This calculator does that comparison for you automatically.

Yes, though it is rare. The most famous example is England defeating Australia at Headingley in 1981, when England followed on and still won by 18 runs — a match known as 'Botham's Ashes'. Teams that follow on must bat twice more in succession, so they face a significant disadvantage, but upsets do happen.

In a four-day first-class match the threshold is 150 runs, and in a three-day match it is 100 runs. For two-day matches the threshold drops to 75 runs, and for one-day matches it is 35 runs. The specific threshold always depends on the scheduled duration of the match.

No. Even when the lead exceeds the required threshold, the captain of the fielding side has the option — not the obligation — to enforce the follow-on. Captains sometimes choose not to enforce it in order to rest their bowlers, bat again in better conditions, or build a larger target.

The follow-on threshold in a five-day Test match is 200 runs. If the team batting first leads by 200 or more runs after the second team has completed their first innings, the captain may ask the opposition to bat again immediately.

No. The follow-on is only applicable in cricket formats where each team bats twice — that is, Test matches and first-class cricket. It does not apply in One Day Internationals (ODIs) or Twenty20 (T20) matches, where each team bats only once.

The follow-on can only be enforced once the second team has completed their first innings (all out or declared). If they are still batting, you can use this calculator to see how many more runs they need to score to avoid the follow-on based on the current lead.