How Is The Follow on Score Calculated in Cricket

The follow-on score in cricket is a strategic decision that can significantly impact match outcomes. This guide explains how it's calculated, its implications, and provides practical examples to help you understand its role in the game.

What Is the Follow On in Cricket?

The follow-on is a tactical decision in cricket where the team that won the toss and chose to bat first is required to bat again after the second team has completed their innings. This occurs when the second team's total is less than the first team's first-innings score.

This strategy is used to put pressure on the batting team, who must then chase a target that is lower than their first-innings score. The follow-on score is calculated based on the difference between the two teams' first-innings totals.

How Is the Follow On Score Calculated?

The follow-on score is determined by the difference between the two teams' first-innings totals. The team that bats first must then score more runs than this difference to win the match.

Follow On Score Formula

Follow On Score = First Innings Total (Team A) - First Innings Total (Team B)

If the result is positive, Team A must score more than this number in their second innings to win.

The follow-on is declared when the second team's first-innings total is less than the first team's first-innings total. The difference between these two scores becomes the target that the second team must chase in their second innings.

Key Assumptions

The follow-on is only declared in Test matches and some limited-overs formats.
The decision is based on the difference between the two teams' first-innings totals.
The follow-on score is the target that the batting team must achieve in their second innings.

Impact on Match Outcomes

The follow-on can have a significant impact on match outcomes, as it puts additional pressure on the batting team. The team that bats first must then score more runs than the difference between the two teams' first-innings totals to win the match.

This strategy is often used to level the playing field when one team has a significant lead after the first innings. The follow-on score is a key factor in determining the outcome of the match.

In Test cricket, the follow-on is a strategic decision that can be used to put pressure on the batting team and level the playing field.

Worked Example

Let's consider an example to illustrate how the follow-on score is calculated:

Team	First Innings Score	Second Innings Score	Result
Team A	350	280	Lost by 40 runs
Team B	200	240	Won by 60 runs

In this example, Team A's first-innings total is 350, and Team B's first-innings total is 200. The follow-on score is calculated as follows:

Follow On Score = 350 - 200 = 150

Team A must then score more than 150 runs in their second innings to win the match. In this case, Team A scores 280 runs, which is less than the follow-on score of 150, resulting in a loss by 40 runs.

FAQ

What is the follow-on in cricket?

How is the follow-on score calculated?

The follow-on score is calculated as the difference between the two teams' first-innings totals. The team that bats first must then score more runs than this difference to win the match.