Consequences of India failing to reach 246 against Australia in Gabba: Understanding the follow-on rule and its impacts

India went to Lunch on Day 4 of the third Test against Australia with 79 more runs needed to avoid the follow-on. Currently, Ravindra Jadeja (41) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (7) were at the crease, with hopes resting on them to reach the target of 246. The rain once again disrupted play at the start of the second session, highlighting the significance of these remaining 79 runs in the Test match. While India still trailed by 278 runs from Australia's first-innings total of 445, the focus was on reaching 246 to offset the follow-on rather than aiming for the entire target. The team's immediate priority was to secure that score and firmly stay in the game before considering the larger deficit.

The answer lies in the follow-on law. According to MCC Law 14.1.1, "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 what does this effectively mean? It means if India don't get to 246, Australia will have the opportunity to ask to come out to bat again. And if they can bowl them out under the required runs, they will the match by an innings; if not, they will come out to bat and chase the lead India takes. This would effectively rule out any possibility of Australia losing this Test.

Follow-on may have gone out of fashion in the modern-day game, but it becomes extremely crucial in a Test match, where time is one of the most important variables.

If India manage to save the follow-on, it would be a giant step towards saving the Test match as it would mean that Australia will have to come out to bat in their second innings and set India a target, which would take more time off this Test.

Steve Smith redeemed himself with a stunning catch to deny KL Rahul a rousing century and give Australia a vital breakthrough before lunch on day four of the third test in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Fielding at slip, Smith leapt to his right to pluck a one-hander after spinner Nathan Lyon induced an edge from opener Rahul, who fell for 84 as India went to lunch at 167 for six, still 79 runs from avoiding the follow-on.

The catch broke a stubborn 67-run partnership with recalled all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja which had given India hope of staving off a second successive defeat in the five-match series.

It was also a relief for Smith after he dropped a waist-high chance in the slips on the first ball of the morning by captain Pat Cummins to reprieve Rahul on 33.

Australia's task was made tougher by a calf problem for paceman Josh Hazlewood, who bowled only one over in the morning before a team spokesperson said he would be taken for scans.