In the traditional and often unforgiving format of Test cricket, enforcing the follow-on is seen as an act of domination, one team imposing its authority after building a massive first-innings lead. The team made to bat again is expected to crumble under pressure. However, history has a strange way of favouring the resilient. There have been rare but remarkable instances when the side forced to follow-on rose from the ashes and scripted the unthinkable, winning the Test match after being nearly out of the contest.
Such triumphs defy odds, disrupt momentum, and rewrite cricketing lore. This article takes you through the Top 10 Times India or England Won After Follow-On, a curated list of matches where courage, skill, and determination triumphed over adversity. Each of these games showcases the essence of Test cricket: that no situation is truly beyond redemption. These are not just victories, they are testimonies of mental strength and team spirit.
10. England vs India, Lord’s 2021
Venue: Lord’s, London
Series: Pataudi Trophy
Result: India won by 151 runs
Though not a case where India had to follow-on, this match saw a near-collapse scenario where England almost enforced it. But the last-wicket stand between Bumrah and Shami helped India wrest back control. A strong second innings bowling display ensured a famous win for the visitors.
9. India vs England, Chennai 2021
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Series: England Tour of India
Result: India won by 317 runs
Although not a follow-on match technically, England were outplayed to such an extent that discussions arose whether India should enforce the follow-on. Instead, India batted again and secured a massive win, showing how enforcing the follow-on isn’t always the best tactic—sometimes letting the pitch deteriorate works better.
8. England vs South Africa, Durban 1939
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Series: England Tour of South Africa
Result: Match drawn (England ahead after follow-on)
In the famous timeless Test, England were forced to follow-on after trailing by 196 runs but batted for nearly 10 days. Though it ended in a draw (due to England’s ship schedule), they were on the brink of a win, making this a near miss in the follow-on comeback folklore.
7. India vs Sri Lanka, Kanpur 2009
Venue: Green Park, Kanpur
Series: Sri Lanka Tour of India
Result: India won by an innings and 144 runs
Though not a traditional follow-on scenario (India declared and dominated), Sri Lanka were made to bat again and fell to India’s spin twin attack. India showed how enforcing the follow-on can be strategic and dominant, but had they been forced to bat again, it could’ve been a different tale.
6. England vs West Indies, The Oval 1926
Venue: The Oval, London
Series: West Indies Tour of England
Result: England won by an innings and 34 runs
England were made to follow-on in a tricky situation but turned the match around with a mammoth second innings. The bowling duo of Maurice Tate and Harold Larwood wrapped up the West Indies cheaply in the final innings.
5. India vs Bangladesh, Mirpur 2022
Venue: Mirpur, Dhaka
Series: India Tour of Bangladesh
Result: India won by 3 wickets
In a rare scenario, India were technically behind in the game and needed to stave off a defeat after being asked to follow-on. Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin pulled off a rear-guard action to take India to victory. Though not a massive follow-on deficit, it showed India’s ability to stay composed under pressure.
4. England vs Australia, Melbourne 1895
Venue: MCG, Melbourne
Series: Ashes
Result: England won by 6 wickets
Australia put up 414 and enforced the follow-on after bowling England out for 75. However, W.G. Grace’s tactical acumen and resilience, backed by strong batting performances in the second innings, led England to an improbable win by six wickets.
3. England vs Australia, Sydney 1894
Venue: SCG, Sydney
Series: Ashes
Result: England won by 10 runs
This was the first instance in Test history where a team won after being forced to follow-on. England, led by Albert Ward and Bobby Peel, clawed their way back from a 261-run deficit and bowled Australia out in a thrilling finish, winning by just 10 runs.
2. England vs Australia, Leeds 1981
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
Series: The Ashes
Result: England won by 18 runs
Forced to follow-on after trailing by 227 runs, England were all but buried. But Ian Botham turned into a one-man army with a counterattacking 149*, followed by Bob Willis ripping through Australia with 8/43. England’s 18-run win became one of the most iconic upsets in Test cricket history.
1. India vs Australia, Kolkata 2001
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Series: Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Result: India won by 171 runs
Australia had enforced the follow-on after bowling India out for 171 in response to their own 445. With India still 274 runs behind, all hopes seemed lost. What followed was pure magic. VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) batted for an entire day, staging one of the most heroic comebacks in cricket. Harbhajan Singh’s 13 wickets across both innings sealed the match and snapped Australia’s record 16-Test winning streak.
READ MORE:
