See also: Playing time (cricket)
Test cricket is played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a
maximum five days (though finishing earlier if a result is reached before the maximum time). On each day there are usually three two-hour sessions, with a forty minute break for "lunch" and a twenty minute break for "tea". For example, in England, common times of play are as follows:
- First session: 11am – 1 pm
- Second session: 1:40 pm – 3:40 pm
- Third session: 4 pm – 6 pm
In addition, short breaks (5 minutes) may be taken during each session for "drinks", commonly after an hour of play. A 10 minute interval is also taken between changes of
innings.
The times of sessions and intervals may be altered in certain circumstances, for example:
- If bad weather or a change of innings occurs close to a scheduled break, the break may be taken immediately;
- If there has been a loss of playing time, for example due to bad weather, the session times may be adjusted to make up for the lost time;
- If the batting side is nine wickets down, the tea break is delayed the earlier of 30 minutes or until the team is all out;[6]
- The final session may be extended by up to 30 minutes if 90 or more overs have not been bowled in that day's play (subject to any reduction for adverse weather);[7]
- The final session may also be extended by 30 minutes (except on the 5th day) if the umpires believe believe the match can be decided within that time (this is in addition to any time added to complete the prescribed number of overs).[8]
In the
early days of the game, Test matches were played over three or four days. Up until the 1980's, it was usual to include a 'rest day', often on the Sunday. There have also been '
Timeless Tests', which did not end after a predetermined maximum time. In 2005 Australia played a six-day match against a World XI which the ICC sanctioned as an official Test match, though the match reached a conclusion on the fourth day.