Test Cricket: The game of cricket has many different rules, which are not easy to understand. One such rule is the “follow-on” rule in test cricket, which is very hard to understand. After scoring a big total in the first innings, if a team can dismiss the opposition to a lesser total, that gives the first batting team an option to enforce a follow-on.
And after a follow-on, it is just impossible for the second team to win. In the history of 150-plus years of test cricket, there are only three instances when a team has won after following on. However, in this article, we will talk about the highest team score by a team after a follow-on.
3. South Africa – 156 (F/o) & 572/7 vs England in Dec 1999
The second highest score ever made by a team after a follow-on is registered with the name of South Africa, which came in December 1999. It was a test match against England at Durban, and batting first, the English team declared their first inning at 366/9. Skipper Nasser Hussain made 146, and Alec Stewart scored 95 for them. In response, South Africa got dismissed for just 156 runs in 50.5 overs.
As a result, they were forced to play follow-on and bat in consecutive innings. But the very next innings saw some incredible batting performances. Gary Kirsten scored his career best test score and made 275 in the second innings. Mark Boucher also scored a century and made 105. A few other contributions helped South Africa bat for seven sessions. They were at 572/7 when the match was called a draw.
2. Pakistan – 106 (F/o) & 657/8 d vs West Indies in Jan 1958
The joint-highest total by a team after a follow-on is registered under the name of Pakistan. It came in January 1958, when they played against the West Indies at Bridgetown. Batting first, the West Indies declared their first innings for a huge total of 579/9, with Conrad Hunte (142) and Everton Weekes (197) scoring big centuries. In reply, Pakistan failed miserably with the bat and got all out for just 106 runs in 42.2 overs. Thus, the West Indies forced a follow-on.
But in the second inning, Pakistan showed a totally different batting display. They just kept batting for the next three days and 319 overs. Pakistan declared their second innings at 657/8 with the help of an incredible triple century from Hanif Mohammad, who made 337 runs. They set the West Indies a target of 185 runs, but there were only 10-15 overs left in the game. As a result, the match ended in a draw with West Indies at 28/0 in 11 overs. This match saw the joint-highest total after a follow-on.
1. India – 171 (F/o) & 657/7 d vs Australia in March 2001
India holds the record for the joint-highest total after a follow-on, which came in the winning cause. There are only three instances when a team won the game after a follow-on. The latest came in March 2001 between India and Australia at the Eden Gardens. Batting first, Australia made a big score of 445 with a brilliant century from skipper Steve Waugh (110). But India couldn’t bat like that and got all out for just 171 runs in 58.1 overs. Australia chose to force a follow-on on the Indian team in place of batting second.
But in the second inning, Team India certainly had one of the best batting performances of their entire history. India played for the next two days and declared at a massive total of 657/7 in 178 overs. It became possible with an incredible 5th wicket partnership of 376 runs between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. Laxman made his career-best score of 281, and Dravid scored 180. India gave Australia a target of 384 runs. In reply, Australia got all out for 212 runs, and India registered one of the biggest wins in history.
Highest Team Total after Follow On in Test cricket
| Team | 1st Inn | 2nd Inn | Against | Venue | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 171 (f/o) | 657/7 d | Australia | Eden Gardens | 15/03/2001 | IND won by 171 runs |
| Pakistan | 106 (f/o) | 657/8 d | West Indies | Bridgetown | 23/01/1958 | Match Drawn |
| South Africa | 156 (f/0) | 572/7 | England | Durban | 30/12/1999 | Match Drawn |
| South Africa | 208 (f/o) | 551 | England | Nottingham | 11/07/1947 | Match Drawn |
| England | 191 (f/O) | 538 | Australia | The Oval | 03/09/1974 | Match Drawn |
| Pakistan | 260 (f/o) | 537 | Australia | Rawalpindi | 09/10/1994 | Match Drawn |
| Sri Lanka | 192 (f/o) | 537/9 | England | Lord’s | 15/05/2006 | Match Drawn |
| Sri Lanka | 275 (f/o) | 529/5 d | England | Lord’s | 20/05/2002 | Match Drawn |
| India | 164 (f/o) | 510 | England | Leeds | 13/06/1967 | ENG won by 6 wkts |
| Zimbabwe | 382 (f/o) | 506/6 d | India | Nagpur | 29/11/2000 | Match Drawn |