What is the follow-on rule in cricket? What does it mean, when can it be used in Ashes 2025 and why
The 2025 Ashes series is well and truly underway - and new fans are still getting to grips with some of the rules.
Australia ended day one on 123/9, 49 runs behind England’s first innings of 172.
England stumbled out of the gates in Perth, all out in 32.5 overs. But once the Aussies came up to bat, their early partnerships were wiped out by Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, before Ben Stokes picked off the middle order.
This means England enter day two - which starts at 2.30am UK time on Saturday, November 22 - with the upper hand in the first of five test series.
The game of cricket has all kinds of confusing laws for the casual viewer to contend with, none more so than that follow-on law - so we have put together this explanation of what is involved.
What is the follow-on?
The follow-on is a law in cricket where a team batting first can force the opposition to bat two consecutive innings if they failed to reach a set number of runs in their own first innings.
The official MCC rulebook states: “In a two-innings match of 5 days or more, the side which bats first and leads by at least 200 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings.”
So for example, if England were to scored 500 runs in their first innings, but Australia only scored 250 in theirs, England captain Ben Stokes could asked the opposition to bat their second innings as soon as their first is over.
How many runs are required to enforce the follow-on change?
There is a set number of runs needed for the follow-on rule to come into effect, and that varies depending on how much cricket has been played.
According to the laws of the game, the same option shall be available in two-innings matches of shorter duration with the minimum leads as follows:
150 runs in a match of three or four days;
100 runs in a two-day match;
75 runs in a one-day match.
What must a captain do to enforce the follow-on?
The official MCC rulebook adds: “A captain shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of his/her intention to take up this option. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.”