The word ‘FOLLOW ON’ has the meaning in its self. You can say that we are using a basic common English meaning of ‘FOLLOW ON’ in the context of Cricket.
Its a simple concept to understand. The word ‘FOLLOW ON’ is the domain of Test Cricket. It is not used in limited over cricket (one days and T-20’s) format. Before understanding the concept of ‘FOLLOW ON’ lets understand some basics of Test Cricket.
In general in Test Cricket we do have four innings. They are.
- 1st innings
- 2nd innings
- 3rd innings
- 4th innings
Let us have the two teams A and B. In general if team A bats in 1st innings then team B bats in 2nd innings. Then again team A bats in 3rd innings. And at last team B bats in 4th innings.
- 1st innings———–‘A’
- 2nd innings———-‘B’
- 3rd innings———-‘A’
- 4th innings———-‘B’
Now if the ‘FOLLOW ON’ comes into the party then team B will bat in 3rd innings and team A in 4th innings depending upon the team A’s captain decision who makes team B to FOLLOW or not.
So when the word ‘FOLLOW ON’ comes into the party ?
LETS CHECK OUT THE EXAMPLES FOR FOLLOW ON
Example (1)
Suppose if team A scores in 1st innings ——- 450 runs.
Then the team B say scored ——————-180 runs in 2nd innings.
Now 450-200 = 250 runs.
The team B has to score minimum 250 runs to avoid the ‘FOLLOW ON’ but it has scored just 180 runs in 2nd innings.
There fore the power of ‘FOLLOW ON’ goes to team A’s captain and if he is interested, he just says, ” hey guys just bat again ” or ” hey guys just FOLLOW ON “.
- 1st innings———–‘A’
- 2nd innings———-‘B’
- 3rd innings———-‘B’
- 4th innings———-‘A’
Some times the captain of team A may not ask the opposite team to bat again, depends on his match tactics. He may or may not ask the opposite team to ‘FOLLOW ON’.
But the captain of Team A gets the choice and power of ‘FOLLOW ON’, if the opposite team doesn’t avoid the ‘FOLLOW ON’.
Only the team which bats in 1st innings gets the power of ‘FOLLOW ON’.
Example (2)
Team A —————–1st innings———-450 runs
Team B —————–2nd innings———251 runs
Now 450-200 = 250 runs.
Team B has avoided the ‘FOLLOW ON’ by scoring (450-200) minimum 250 runs and in fact scored 251 more than 250 runs.
Now Team A’s captain gets no power of ‘FOLLOW ON’.
Example (3)
Team A —————1st innings ————198 runs
Team B —————2nd innings ———–150 runs
Now 198-200 = impossible.
There is no question of ‘FOLLOW ON’ if a team batting in 1st innings scores less than ‘201’ runs.
The word ‘FOLLOW ON’ exists only when a team batting in 1st innings scores at least ‘201’ runs.
This is what the ‘FOLLOW ON’ is and the word ‘ 200 runs ‘ is how important.