Explained: Why second India-South Africa Test will have Tea before Lunch?

The upcoming second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati is reportedly set to feature a tea interval before the lunch break.

The Test, starting November 22 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, will not only mark the venue’s debut as India’s newest Test ground but will also see the tea interval preceding the lunch break.

This unusual arrangement stems from Guwahati’s geographical location on India’s eastern edge, where daylight fades much earlier than in the western parts of the country.

Since India follows a single time zone, the early sunset has forced match officials to tweak the playing hours.

As a result, the day’s play will begin at 9:00 AM local time and end by 4:00 PM, with sessions divided as follows:

• First session: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Second session: 11:20 AM – 1:20 PM
• Final session: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (extendable till 4:30 PM if needed)

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Unlike the usual order of lunch followed by tea, the Guwahati Test will have a 20-minute tea interval first, followed by a 40-minute lunch break, a first in international cricket.

Interestingly, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test Match Playing Conditions do not prohibit the reversal.

Section 11.2.1 only specifies the duration of the two intervals, 40 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes for tea, and allows flexibility in timing with mutual agreement between boards and ICC approval.

There’s no clause mandating that lunch must precede tea.

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