Calculate Follow on in Test Cricket Match

What is Follow On in Test Cricket?

The follow-on is a tactical decision in Test cricket where the team batting second in the first innings chooses to bat again in their second innings after the first team has declared. This strategy is used when the batting team believes they can score more runs in the second innings than the first team can in the remaining overs.

The decision to follow-on is based on several factors including the current score, the number of overs remaining, the pitch conditions, and the team's batting and bowling strengths. The follow-on is only possible if the first team has declared their innings and the second team has not yet started their second innings.

How to Calculate Follow On

Calculating whether to follow-on involves evaluating the current match situation and comparing it to historical data and statistical trends. The key factors to consider include:

• The current score of the team batting second in the first innings
• The number of overs remaining in the first innings
• The average run rate of the team batting second
• The average run rate of the team bowling first
• The pitch conditions and their impact on scoring

The follow-on is generally advisable if the team batting second believes they can score more runs in the second innings than the first team can in the remaining overs. The calculator uses these factors to provide a recommendation on whether to follow-on.

Formula for Follow On Decision

The follow-on decision is based on the following formula:

Where:

• Current Score is the score of the team batting second in the first innings
• Overs Remaining is the number of overs remaining in the first innings
• Average Run Rate is the average runs scored per over by the team batting second
• First Team's Score is the score of the team bowling first
• First Team's Average Run Rate is the average runs scored per over by the team bowling first

If the result of the formula is true, then the follow-on is advisable. Otherwise, the team should not follow-on.

Worked Example

Let's consider an example to illustrate how the follow-on decision is calculated.

Suppose:

• Current Score = 250 runs
• Overs Remaining = 30 overs
• Average Run Rate = 4.5 runs per over
• First Team's Score = 300 runs
• First Team's Average Run Rate = 5.0 runs per over

Using the formula:

In this case, the follow-on is not advisable because the team batting second does not expect to score more runs in the second innings than the first team can in the remaining overs.