Test cricket, the pinnacle of the sport, witnessed monumental victories where teams crushed their opponents by an innings—a feat that underscores dominance and superiority. From the 19th century to the modern day, these one-sided contests have continued to showcase masterful performances.
When for the first time follow-on enforced in a Test match?
In a Test cricket, first time a follow-on was enforced way back in 1886. England’s resounding win at Kennington Oval in 1886 against Australia by an innings and 217 runs remains a historic milestone. Similarly, Australia, in their prime, registered massive triumphs, such as their innings win over England in Brisbane (1946) by a staggering 332 runs. Tap here to check follow-on rules in Test cricket
Pakistan and South Africa also feature prominently in these records. South Africa’s crushing win over Bangladesh in 2024 by an innings and 273 runs is one of the most recent examples of ruthlessness in red-ball cricket.
The follow-on: A captain’s weapon of dominance or risk?
In matches where the follow-on has been enforced, statistics show a remarkable 77.42 per cent success rate for the enforcing side, translating to 264 victories out of 341 matches.
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However, the decision to enforce the follow-on is not without its risks. While the odds heavily favour the dominant side, there have been rare instances where teams enforcing the follow-on have tasted defeat. Of the 341 matches, only 4 matches (1.17 per cent) saw the enforcing side end up losing, highlighting how slim the risk is but proving it cannot be ignored entirely.
Full list of matches, results when follow-on enforced in Test cricket | |||
Match | Country | Versus | Result |
06/09/1880 | ENG (420 & 5/57) | AUS (149 & 327) | ENG won by 5 wickets |
30/12/1882 | AUS (291 & 1/58) | ENG (177 & 169) | AUS won by 9 wickets |
19/01/1883 | ENG (294) | AUS (114 & 153) | ENG won by an ING & 27 runs |
01/01/1885 | ENG (401 & 0/7) | AUS (279 & 126) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
19/07/1886 | ENG (353) | AUS (121 & 126) | ENG won by an ING & 106 runs |
12/08/1886 | ENG (434) | AUS (68 & 149) | ENG won by an ING & 217 runs |
30/08/1888 | ENG (172) | AUS (81 & 70) | ENG won by an ING & 21 runs |
25/03/1889 | ENG (292) | SA (47 & 43) | ENG won by an ING & 202 runs |
24/03/1892 | ENG (499) | AUS (100 & 169) | ENG won by an ING & 230 runs |
14/08/1893 | ENG (483) | AUS (91 & 349) | ENG won by an ING & 43 runs |
01/02/1895 | AUS (284) | ENG (65 & 72) | AUS won by an ING & 147 runs |
02/03/1896 | ENG (482) | SA (151 & 134) | ENG won by an ING & 197 runs |
16/07/1896 | AUS (412 & 7/125) | ENG (231 & 305) | AUS won by 3 wickets |
13/12/1897 | ENG (551 & 1/96) | AUS (237 & 408) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
01/01/1898 | AUS (520) | ENG (315 & 150) | AUS won by an ING & 55 runs |
14/01/1898 | AUS (573) | ENG (278 & 282) | AUS won by an ING & 13 runs |
29/01/1898 | AUS (323 & 2/115) | ENG (174 & 263) | AUS won by 8 wickets |
13/12/1901 | ENG (464) | AUS (168 & 172) | ENG won by an ING & 124 runs |
08/11/1902 | AUS (252 & 0/59) | SA (85 & 225) | AUS won by 10 wickets |
24/07/1905 | ENG (446) | AUS (197 & 169) | ENG won by an ING & 80 runs |
11/03/1910 | ENG (417 & 1/16) | SA (103 & 327) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
09/12/1910 | AUS (528) | SA (174 & 240) | AUS won by an ING & 114 runs |
03/03/1911 | AUS (364 & 3/198) | SA (160 & 401) | AUS won by 7 wickets |
27/05/1912 | AUS (448) | SA (265 & 95) | AUS won by an ING & 88 runs |
31/12/1920 | AUS (499) | ENG (251 & 157) | AUS won by an ING & 91 runs |
14/06/1924 | ENG (438) | SA (30 & 390) | ENG won by an ING & 18 runs |
12/07/1924 | ENG (396 & 1/60) | SA (132 & 323) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
13/02/1925 | ENG (548) | AUS (269 & 250) | ENG won by an ING & 29 runs |
23/06/1928 | ENG (401) | WI (177 & 166) | ENG won by an ING & 58 runs |
27/07/1929 | ENG (7/427 dec) | SA (130 & 265) | ENG won by an ING & 32 runs |
01/01/1931 | AUS (369) | WI (107 & 90) | AUS won by an ING & 172 runs |
16/01/1931 | AUS (558) | WI (193 & 148) | AUS won by an ING & 217 runs |
29/07/1931 | ENG (4/416 dec) | NZ (193 & 197) | ENG won by an ING & 26 runs |
27/11/1931 | AUS (450) | SA (170 & 117) | AUS won by an ING & 163 runs |
24/06/1933 | ENG (296) | WI (97 & 172) | ENG won by an ING & 27 runs |
12/08/1933 | ENG (312) | WI (100 & 195) | ENG won by an ING & 17 runs |
22/06/1934 | ENG (440) | AUS (284 & 118) | ENG won by an ING & 38 runs |
14/03/1935 | WI (7/535 dec) | ENG (271 & 103) | WI won by an ING & 161 runs |
01/01/1936 | AUS (8/362 dec) | SA (102 & 182) | AUS won by an ING & 78 runs |
15/08/1936 | ENG (8/471 dec & 1/64) | IND (222 & 312) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
18/12/1936 | ENG (6/426 dec) | AUS (80 & 324) | ENG won by an ING & 22 runs |
26/02/1937 | AUS (604) | ENG (239 & 165) | AUS won by an ING & 200 runs |
20/08/1938 | ENG (7/903 dec) | AUS (201 & 123) | ENG won by an ING & 579 runs |
20/01/1939 | ENG (4/469 dec) | SA (103 & 353) | ENG won by an ING & 13 runs |
29/11/1946 | AUS (645) | ENG (141 & 172) | AUS won by an ING & 332 runs |
21/06/1947 | ENG (8/554 dec & 0/26) | SA (327 & 252) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
28/11/1947 | AUS (8/382 dec) | IND (58 & 98) | AUS won by an ING & 226 runs |
23/01/1948 | AUS (674) | IND (381 & 277) | AUS won by an ING & 16 runs |
06/02/1948 | AUS (8/575 dec) | IND (331 & 67) | AUS won by an ING & 177 runs |
03/03/1948 | WI (8/297 dec & 3/78) | ENG (111 & 263) | WI won by 7 wickets |
27/01/1949 | WI (582) | IND (245 & 144) | WI won by an ING & 193 runs |
24/12/1949 | AUS (413) | SA (137 & 191) | AUS won by an ING & 85 runs |
31/12/1949 | AUS (7/526 dec & 2/87) | SA (278 & 333) | AUS won by 8 wickets |
03/03/1950 | AUS (7/549 dec) | SA (158 & 132) | AUS won by an ING & 259 runs |
12/08/1950 | WI (503) | ENG (344 & 103) | WI won by an ING & 56 runs |
21/06/1951 | ENG (311 & 0/16) | SA (115 & 211) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
17/07/1952 | ENG (9/347 dec) | IND (58 & 82) | ENG won by an ING & 207 runs |
16/10/1952 | IND (372) | PAK (150 & 152) | IND won by an ING & 70 runs |
06/03/1953 | SA (8/524 dec) | NZ (172 & 172) | SA won by an ING & 180 runs |
11/12/1953 | SA (9/437 dec) | NZ (230 & 149) | SA won by an ING & 58 runs |
29/01/1954 | SA (243 & 1/25) | NZ (79 & 188) | SA won by 9 wickets |
24/02/1954 | ENG (435 & 1/75) | WI (251 & 256) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
26/11/1954 | AUS (8/601 dec) | ENG (190 & 257) | AUS won by an ING & 154 runs |
26/03/1955 | AUS (9/515 dec & 1/20) | WI (259 & 275) | AUS won by 9 wickets |
09/06/1955 | ENG (334) | SA (181 & 148) | ENG won by an ING & 5 runs |
02/12/1955 | IND (8/421 dec) | NZ (258 & 136) | IND won by an ING & 27 runs |
06/01/1956 | IND (3/537 dec) | NZ (209 & 219) | IND won by an ING & 109 runs |
18/02/1956 | WI (386) | NZ (158 & 164) | WI won by an ING & 64 runs |
03/03/1956 | WI (404 & 1/13) | NZ (208 & 208) | WI won by 9 wickets |
12/07/1956 | ENG (325) | AUS (143 & 140) | ENG won by an ING & 42 runs |
26/07/1956 | ENG (459) | AUS (84 & 205) | ENG won by an ING & 170 runs |
22/08/1957 | ENG (412) | WI (89 & 86) | ENG won by an ING & 237 runs |
31/12/1957 | AUS (449) | SA (209 & 99) | AUS won by an ING & 141 runs |
07/02/1958 | AUS (401 & 0/1) | SA (203 & 198) | AUS won by 10 wickets |
19/06/1958 | ENG (269) | NZ (47 & 74) | ENG won by an ING & 148 runs |
31/12/1958 | WI (5/614 dec) | IND (124 & 154) | WI won by an ING & 336 runs |
30/01/1959 | AUS (476 & 0/36) | ENG (240 & 270) | AUS won by 10 wickets |
27/02/1959 | ENG (374) | NZ (142 & 133) | ENG won by an ING & 99 runs |
26/03/1959 | WI (469) | PAK (209 & 104) | WI won by an ING & 156 runs |
04/06/1959 | ENG (422) | IND (206 & 157) | ENG won by an ING & 59 runs |
13/01/1960 | AUS (342) | IND (149 & 138) | AUS won by an ING & 55 runs |
23/06/1960 | ENG (8/362 dec) | SA (152 & 137) | ENG won by an ING & 73 runs |
07/07/1960 | ENG (287 & 2/49) | SA (88 & 247) | ENG won by 8 wickets |
30/12/1960 | AUS (348 & 3/70) | WI (181 & 233) | AUS won by 7 wickets |
04/04/1962 | WI (9/444 dec & 3/176) | IND (197 & 422) | WI won by 7 wickets |
31/05/1962 | ENG (5/544 dec) | PAK (246 & 274) | ENG won by an ING & 24 runs |
05/07/1962 | ENG (428) | PAK (131 & 180) | ENG won by an ING & 117 runs |
16/08/1962 | ENG (5/480 dec & 0/27) | PAK (183 & 323) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
23/02/1963 | ENG (7/562 dec) | NZ (258 & 89) | ENG won by an ING & 215 runs |
06/06/1963 | WI (6/501 dec & 0/1) | ENG (205 & 296) | WI won by 10 wickets |
04/12/1964 | ENG (5/485 dec) | SA (155 & 226) | ENG won by an ING & 104 runs |
27/05/1965 | ENG (435 & 1/96) | NZ (116 & 413) | ENG won by 9 wickets |
08/07/1965 | ENG (4/546 dec) | NZ (193 & 166) | ENG won by an ING & 187 runs |
07/01/1966 | ENG (488) | AUS (221 & 174) | ENG won by an ING & 93 runs |
02/06/1966 | WI (484) | ENG (167 & 277) | WI won by an ING & 40 runs |
04/08/1966 | WI (9/500 dec) | ENG (240 & 205) | WI won by an ING & 55 runs |
31/12/1966 | WI (390) | IND (167 & 178) | WI won by an ING & 45 runs |
31/12/1966 | AUS (542 & 4/180) | SA (353 & 367) | AUS won by 6 wickets |
20/01/1967 | SA (300 & 2/185) | AUS (147 & 334) | SA won by 8 wickets |
08/06/1967 | ENG (4/550 dec & 4/126) | IND (164 & 510) | ENG won by 6 wickets |
22/02/1968 | NZ (502 & 4/88) | IND (288 & 301) | NZ won by 6 wickets |
12/06/1969 | ENG (413 & 0/12) | WI (147 & 275) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
05/02/1970 | SA (9/622 dec) | AUS (157 & 336) | SA won by an ING & 129 runs |
07/02/1973 | PAK (6/507 dec) | NZ (156 & 185) | PAK won by an ING & 166 runs |
23/08/1973 | WI (8/652 dec) | ENG (233 & 193) | WI won by an ING & 226 runs |
29/12/1973 | AUS (8/462 dec) | NZ (237 & 200) | AUS won by an ING & 25 runs |
26/01/1974 | AUS (477) | NZ (218 & 202) | AUS won by an ING & 57 runs |
20/06/1974 | ENG (629) | IND (302 & 42) | ENG won by an ING & 285 runs |
20/02/1975 | ENG (6/593 dec) | NZ (326 & 184) | ENG won by an ING & 83 runs |
10/07/1975 | AUS (359) | ENG (101 & 173) | AUS won by an ING & 85 runs |
09/10/1976 | PAK (417 & 4/105) | NZ (157 & 360) | PAK won by 6 wickets |
23/10/1976 | PAK (8/473 dec & 0/4) | NZ (219 & 254) | PAK won by 10 wickets |
17/12/1976 | ENG (381) | IND (122 & 234) | ENG won by an ING & 25 runs |
11/08/1977 | ENG (436) | AUS (103 & 248) | ENG won by an ING & 85 runs |
15/06/1978 | ENG (364) | PAK (105 & 139) | ENG won by an ING & 120 runs |
10/08/1978 | ENG (429) | NZ (120 & 190) | ENG won by an ING & 119 runs |
12/07/1979 | ENG (5/633 dec) | IND (297 & 253) | ENG won by an ING & 83 runs |
03/11/1979 | IND (8/458 dec) | AUS (160 & 198) | IND won by an ING & 100 runs |
13/02/1981 | WI (9/426 dec) | ENG (178 & 169) | WI won by an ING & 79 runs |
11/12/1981 | PAK (8/500 dec) | AUS (293 & 125) | PAK won by an ING & 82 runs |
19/03/1982 | AUS (353 & 2/69) | NZ (149 & 272) | AUS won by 8 wickets |
10/06/1982 | ENG (433 & 3/67) | IND (128 & 369) | ENG won by 7 wickets |
12/08/1982 | PAK (8/428 dec & 0/77) | ENG (227 & 276) | PAK won by 10 wickets |
30/09/1982 | PAK (6/501 dec) | AUS (168 & 330) | PAK won by an ING & 3 runs |
10/12/1982 | AUS (438 & 2/83) | ENG (216 & 304) | AUS won by 8 wickets |
14/01/1983 | PAK (3/581 dec) | IND (189 & 273) | PAK won by an ING & 119 runs |
04/03/1983 | NZ (344) | SL (144 & 175) | NZ won by an ING & 25 runs |
22/04/1983 | AUS (4/514 dec) | SL (271 & 205) | AUS won by an ING & 38 runs |
21/10/1983 | WI (454) | IND (207 & 164) | WI won by an ING & 83 runs |
11/11/1983 | AUS (9/436 dec) | PAK (129 & 298) | AUS won by an ING & 9 runs |
03/02/1984 | NZ (307) | ENG (82 & 93) | NZ won by an ING & 132 runs |
26/07/1984 | WI (500) | ENG (280 & 156) | WI won by an ING & 64 runs |
09/11/1984 | WI (416) | AUS (76 & 228) | WI won by an ING & 112 runs |
30/12/1984 | AUS (9/471 dec) | WI (163 & 253) | AUS won by an ING & 55 runs |
04/05/1985 | WI (363 & 0/59) | NZ (138 & 283) | WI won by 10 wickets |
29/08/1985 | ENG (464) | AUS (241 & 129) | ENG won by an ING & 94 runs |
21/03/1986 | WI (418) | ENG (189 & 199) | WI won by an ING & 30 runs |
14/11/1986 | ENG (456 & 3/77) | AUS (248 & 282) | ENG won by 7 wickets |
04/01/1987 | IND (400) | SL (191 & 142) | IND won by an ING & 67 runs |
27/02/1987 | WI (9/418 dec & 0/16) | NZ (157 & 273) | WI won by 10 wickets |
12/02/1988 | AUS (455) | SL (194 & 153) | AUS won by an ING & 108 runs |
15/09/1988 | PAK (9/469 dec) | AUS (165 & 116) | PAK won by an ING & 188 runs |
10/08/1989 | AUS (6/602 dec) | ENG (255 & 167) | AUS won by an ING & 180 runs |
02/02/1990 | NZ (459 & 0/2) | IND (164 & 296) | NZ won by 10 wickets |
23/11/1990 | IND (288) | SL (82 & 198) | IND won by an ING & 8 runs |
08/08/1991 | ENG (419 & 5/146) | WI (176 & 385) | ENG won by 5 wickets |
18/01/1992 | ENG (9/580 dec) | NZ (312 & 264) | ENG won by an ING & 4 runs |
06/12/1992 | SL (394 & 1/73) | NZ (102 & 361) | SL won by 9 wickets |
29/01/1993 | IND (371 & 2/82) | ENG (163 & 286) | IND won by 8 wickets |
11/02/1993 | IND (6/560 dec) | ENG (286 & 252) | IND won by an ING & 22 runs |
25/02/1993 | AUS (485) | NZ (182 & 243) | AUS won by an ING & 60 runs |
13/03/1993 | IND (7/536 dec) | ZIM (322 & 201) | IND won by an ING & 13 runs |
23/04/1993 | WI (455 & 0/29) | PAK (221 & 262) | WI won by 10 wickets |
17/06/1993 | AUS (4/632 dec) | ENG (205 & 365) | AUS won by an ING & 62 runs |
22/07/1993 | AUS (4/653 dec) | ENG (200 & 305) | AUS won by an ING & 148 runs |
26/11/1993 | AUS (6/544 dec) | NZ (161 & 161) | AUS won by an ING & 222 runs |
18/01/1994 | IND (511) | SL (218 & 174) | IND won by an ING & 119 runs |
26/01/1994 | IND (6/541 dec) | SL (231 & 215) | IND won by an ING & 95 runs |
01/02/1995 | ZIM (4/544 dec) | PAK (322 & 158) | ZIM won by an ING & 64 runs |
10/02/1995 | WI (5/660 dec) | NZ (216 & 122) | WI won by an ING & 322 runs |
08/09/1995 | PAK (9/459 dec) | SL (186 & 233) | PAK won by an ING & 40 runs |
09/11/1995 | AUS (463) | PAK (97 & 240) | AUS won by an ING & 126 runs |
26/12/1995 | AUS (6/500 dec & 0/41) | SL (233 & 307) | AUS won by 10 wickets |
11/09/1996 | SL (349) | ZIM (145 & 127) | SL won by an ING & 77 runs |
07/03/1997 | NZ (7/586 dec) | SL (222 & 328) | NZ won by an ING & 36 runs |
07/01/1998 | SL (9/469 dec & 2/10) | ZIM (140 & 338) | SL won by 8 wickets |
18/06/1998 | SA (360 & 0/15) | ENG (110 & 264) | SA won by 10 wickets |
26/12/1999 | NZ (9/518 dec) | WI (179 & 234) | NZ won by an ING & 105 runs |
20/07/2000 | SL (522) | SA (238 & 269) | SL won by an ING & 15 runs |
19/09/2000 | NZ (465 & 2/74) | ZIM (166 & 370) | NZ won by 8 wickets |
17/11/2000 | SA (9/471 dec & 5/103) | NZ (229 & 342) | SA won by 5 wickets |
20/01/2001 | SA (378) | SL (119 & 252) | SA won by an ING & 7 runs |
22/02/2001 | SL (5/470 dec) | ENG (253 & 189) | SL won by an ING & 28 runs |
17/05/2001 | ENG (391) | PAK (203 & 179) | ENG won by an ING & 9 runs |
23/08/2001 | AUS (4/641 dec) | ENG (432 & 184) | AUS won by an ING & 25 runs |
07/09/2001 | SA (3/600 dec & 1/79) | ZIM (286 & 391) | SA won by 9 wickets |
15/11/2001 | ZIM (7/542 dec & 2/11) | BAN (251 & 301) | ZIM won by 8 wickets |
18/12/2001 | NZ (9/365 dec) | BAN (205 & 108) | NZ won by an ING & 52 runs |
27/12/2001 | SL (6/586 dec) | ZIM (184 & 236) | SL won by an ING & 166 runs |
02/01/2002 | AUS (554 & 0/54) | SA (154 & 452) | AUS won by 10 wickets |
22/02/2002 | AUS (7/652 dec) | SA (159 & 133) | AUS won by an ING & 360 runs |
01/05/2002 | PAK (643) | NZ (73 & 246) | PAK won by an ING & 324 runs |
13/06/2002 | ENG (512 & 0/50) | SL (253 & 308) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
22/08/2002 | IND (8/628 dec) | ENG (273 & 309) | IND won by an ING & 46 runs |
09/10/2002 | IND (457) | WI (157 & 188) | IND won by an ING & 112 runs |
18/10/2002 | SA (4/529 dec) | BAN (170 & 252) | SA won by an ING & 107 runs |
19/10/2002 | AUS (444) | PAK (221 & 203) | AUS won by an ING & 20 runs |
26/12/2002 | AUS (6/551 dec & 5/107) | ENG (270 & 387) | AUS won by 5 wickets |
26/12/2002 | SA (368 & 0/45) | PAK (161 & 250) | SA won by 10 wickets |
02/01/2003 | SA (7/620 dec) | PAK (252 & 226) | SA won by an ING & 142 runs |
01/05/2003 | AUS (9/605 dec & 1/8) | WI (328 & 284) | AUS won by 9 wickets |
01/05/2003 | SA (330) | BAN (102 & 210) | SA won by an ING & 18 runs |
22/05/2003 | ENG (472) | ZIM (147 & 233) | ENG won by an ING & 92 runs |
05/06/2003 | ENG (416) | ZIM (94 & 253) | ENG won by an ING & 69 runs |
09/10/2003 | AUS (6/735 dec) | ZIM (239 & 321) | AUS won by an ING & 175 runs |
16/01/2004 | SA (6/604 dec & 0/46) | WI (301 & 348) | SA won by 10 wickets |
28/03/2004 | IND (5/675 dec) | PAK (407 & 216) | IND won by an ING & 52 runs |
19/08/2004 | ENG (470 & 0/4) | WI (152 & 318) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
26/10/2004 | NZ (6/545 dec) | BAN (182 & 262) | NZ won by an ING & 101 runs |
16/12/2004 | IND (540) | BAN (333 & 124) | IND won by an ING & 83 runs |
07/08/2005 | NZ (9/452 dec) | ZIM (59 & 99) | NZ won by an ING & 294 runs |
25/08/2005 | ENG (477 & 7/129) | AUS (218 & 387) | ENG won by 3 wickets |
20/09/2005 | SL (9/457 dec) | BAN (191 & 197) | SL won by an ING & 69 runs |
25/05/2007 | BAN (118 & 253) | IND won by an ING & 239 runs | |
25/05/2007 | ENG (7/570 dec) | WI (146 & 141) | ENG won by an ING & 283 runs |
08/11/2007 | AUS (4/551 dec) | SL (211 & 300) | AUS won by an ING & 40 runs |
29/02/2008 | SA (7/583 dec) | BAN (259 & 119) | SA won by an ING & 20 |