Test Cricket History Shaken: Tea Before Lunch!
A century-old tradition in Test cricket is set to change. The classic, aristocratic format in white flannels will see a major break from its long-established routine as the order of breaks is flipped.
Traditionally, Test cricket featured a lunch break after the first session and a tea break after the second. Now, that sequence is changing. For the first time, the tea break will take place before the lunch break.
This new rule will be implemented during South Africa’s two-Test series tour of India in November.
The Reason Behind the Shift
A source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) explained the logic behind the historic move:
“The reason for taking the tea break earlier is that sunset occurs early in Guwahati, and sunrise also happens earlier. This is the first time we have decided to change the time of the tea break, which will save some time, allowing for extra time in the match.”
The New Schedule
The Test match will now begin at 9:00 AM local time.
1. Session 1: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2 hours of play)
2. Tea Break: 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM (20 minutes)
3. Session 2: 11:20 AM – 1:20 PM (2 hours of play)
4. Lunch Break: 1:20 PM – 2:00 PM (40 minutes)
5. Session 3 (Final): 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (2 hours of play)
The Traditional Schedule (for comparison)
Usually, Test matches in India start at 9:30 AM. After two hours of play, a 40-minute lunch break is taken, followed by the second session starting at 12:10 PM. The 20-minute tea break traditionally runs from 2:10 PM to 2:30 PM, with the third session lasting from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Match officials can add 30 minutes of extra time if needed to complete the mandatory 90 overs.
