Intervals
Because of the length of the game, there are a number of intervals that occur in a game of cricket. These are:
- The period between close of play on one day and the start of the next day's play.
- Intervals between innings.
- Intervals for meals (lunch and tea).
- Intervals for drinks.
There are special rules setting out the duration of each interval. The interval between innings lasts for 10 minutes. In test cricket, lunch will last for 40 minutes and tea for 20 minutes.
Before the coin toss to determine which side bats first, the hours of play, including the timing and duration of intervals for meals or any non-standard interval, is agreed. Though if nine wickets are down when the agreed time for tea is reached so that the bowling team only needs one more wicket to end the batting team’s innings, tea is delayed to the earlier of that wicket being taken or 30 minutes elapsing. In a one-day game the teams may agree to take an interval for tea between the innings rather than have a separate interval. Also, the teams and umpires sometimes agree to have other intervals. This may be to allow the teams to be presented to an important visitor or to allow time for a presentation or acclamation when a player breaks a significant record. Other intervals may be varied slightly if a wicket falls just before the interval is due to be taken.
Drinks intervals are agreed at the start of each day, but are not taken during the last hour of the match. Drinks intervals are particularly important when the game is played in particularly hot climates. Games being played in heat of 40 degrees Celsius and above are not unknown. Drinks intervals may not last for more than 5 minutes.
Read more about this topic: Playing Time (cricket)
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