The International Cricket Council has revealed updated follow-on rules for the World Test Championship final that will be played between India and New Zealand beginning June 18, after a reserve day was added.

The governing council has added that the follow-on rules will not be changed if any play is not possible on the first day of the Test match, which would have been the case if Day 1 had been washed out due to rain in other games.

What are the usual ICC rules for follow-on?

The MCC rules on the follow-on (Clause 14.1) states that: “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. 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 3 or 4 days;

– 100 runs in a 2-day match;

– 75 runs in a 1-day match.”

Clause 14.3 mentions: “If no play takes place on the first and second days of the match, clause 14.1 shall apply in accordance with the number of days remaining from the start of play. The day on which play first commences shall count as a whole day for this purpose, irrespective of the time at which play starts. Play will have taken place as soon as, after the call of Play, the first over has started.”

Hence, if four days are remaining in a Test match after the first day was washed out, teams can enforce a follow-on if they have a lead of 150+ runs, under normal circumstances.

How are the rules different for the World Test Championship final?

Due to the presence of a reserve day, the ICC has slightly amended Clause 14.3.

“Clause 14.3 has been amended so that the first innings lead of at least 200 runs will only change to 150 runs if no play takes place on the first and second scheduled days of the match. Normally this will occur if only the first day’s play is lost, but with the provision of a reserve day, it remains a 5-day match even if the first day is lost.”

Hence, if the first day’s play is washed out, teams can only enforce a follow-on if they have a lead of 200 runs as the addition of a reserve day makes it a 5-day game. If the first two days are washed out, only then can a follow-on be enforced with a lead of 150+ runs.

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