In Test match cricket, the game is played over five days, with each day having three main parts called sessions. A Test match is one of the longest forms of international cricket. The first official test match was played between England and Australia in 1877. Throughout the course of a day, a variety of breaks are provided for players to rest and recover. These breaks are referred to as Lunch break, tea break, and drinks break. Let’s learn all there is to know about these breaks in Test cricket, when they occur, how long they last and importantly, why they are important.
Why Are Breaks Important in Test Cricket?
Test cricket is a game of patience, skill and endurance. Players can be outside for a long time and can become tired. Times to have breaks allow for players to get time to rest, eat, drink fluids and recover. The breaks also allow the umpires and ground staff to contribute to the overall maintenance of the game.
Types of Breaks in a Test Match
A day in a test match of cricket is divided into three sessions. The first phase of the test match starts from 9:30 AM. Each session has a duration of 2 hours of playing at the field. Let’s explore all the lunch, drinks, and tea break times in a test match.
1. Lunch Break
- Time: This break is usually after the first two hours of play
- Length: 40 minutes.
- Purpose: For players to have lunch, relax and reset for session 2.
So, if the match starts at 9:30, the lunch break will run from 11:30 am until 12:10 pm.
If you’re using the Indibet app to place live bets, this is a good time to check your stats and decide your next move.
2. Tea Break
- Time: After the second session of play.
- Length: 20 minutes.
- Purpose: Short break to have tea or a snack and rest.
Tea will usually be at approximately 2:10 pm and run to 2:30 pm, once again depending on start time and delays.
For cricket fans who are betting using an online betting application, a tea break is usually a good time to reflect on their bets and earnings or to make new predictions.
3. Breaks for Drinks
1. Time: Halfway through each session of play (every hour or so).
2. Duration: 5 minutes.
3. Purpose: drink some water and cool down, especially if it is hot.
The breaks are shorter than the food breaks and are taken on the playing field.
Summary of Test Match Break Timings
| Break Type | Time | Duration |
| Lunch | After 2 hours of play | 40 minutes |
| Tea | After 2nd session | 20 minutes |
| Drinks | Every hour or so | 5 minutes |
Daily Schedule of a Test Match in India
| Session | Time |
| Start of Play | 9:30 AM |
| Lunch Break | 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM |
| Tea Break | 2:10 PM – 2:30 PM |
| End of Play | 4:30 PM or later |
Extra and Unplanned Breaks in Test Match
There are sometimes unplanned breaks as well, such as:
1. Weather Breaks
Should the rain fall, or there is bad light, then the umpires can stop the match. Abusive time may be added later at the discretion of the umpires, when applicable.
2. Injury Breaks
Should a player become injured, play stops while assistance is given.
3. Strategic Timeouts
While a drinks break is not a common mechanic in Test cricket as it is in T20 cricket, the captain can use the drinks break as an opportunity to strategise field placement and bowling plans.
What happens if time has been lost?
Should there be time lost due to rain or bad light, the umpires may extend the match by up to 30 minutes a day to make up for lost time. This can take place in the interest of undertaking as many overs as possible.
Conclusion
Drinks breaks, like all breaks in Test cricket, are beneficial to players and viewers alike, providing time to rest, rehydrate, and provide a natural cut in play for indexing player tactics. If you simply just watch the game or have a wonderful time while using the 96 app, having an awareness of when breaks occur will help you stay ahead.