As a fan of cricket, you should know what test cricket is. If yes, you probably know about lunch break in test cricket as well. But do you know what time lunch break is in test cricket today? Are there any rules that determine this break interval? Do the timings change from one country to another? You will get all the answers right here.
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Table of Contents
Lunch Break Time in Test Cricket Today—Quick Details
Here are some quick details about the time of lunch break in test cricket. Take a look:
| Standard Lunch Duration | 40 minutes |
| When Lunch Happens | After the first session (about 2 hours after play starts) |
| Number of Overs Before Lunch | 30 (+/-5) |
| Who Decides Lunch Timing | Umpires (based on MCC Laws) |
| Can Lunch Change? | Yes (due to rain, bad light, slow over-rate, other delays, fall of 8th or 9th wicket) |
| Lunch Break in Day Night Test Matches | Called Dinner Break, around 5:00 PM |
| Taken Mid-Over? |
Usually No. Yes (if the batting team is down to their last 3-4 batters/it can be extended up to 30 minutes due to possible innings end) |
Lunch Break Time in Test Cricket in India
The test cricket lunch break time in India is 40 minutes. It is according to the official MCC laws. Test matches in India typically start at 9:30 am. So, the lunch is taken somewhere around the 11:30 am mark. The rule for deciding the lunch break is very clear. Players go for lunch after 2 hours of play or after 30 overs (whichever happens first).
The lunch break time in test cricket in India today is 40 minutes. So, if the first session ends at 11:30 am, the second session officially starts at around 12:10 pm. (unless there is a delay due to rain, wet outfield, etc)
Time for Lunch Break in Test Cricket
In test cricket, lunch marks the end of the first session, aka the morning session. It is taken after two hours of play. During this period, a team is expected to bowl 30 overs. If they complete the 30 overs within the two-hour window, lunch is taken immediately. If the bowling side does not finish 30 overs in time, the umpires still end the morning session as soon as the two hours of play are completed.
The “lunch break time in cricket test” is usually fixed. But umpires can change it slightly depending on the situation of the match. Here are the situations where the lunch break may be delayed:
- If the batting side has lost 8 or 9 wickets, the umpires can extend the morning session by up to 30 minutes. This is because there is a high chance that the innings may end soon.
- If rain, bad light, or any other delay stops the match during the morning session, the umpires may change the timing of lunch. Sometimes lunch can be taken earlier. Sometimes lunch can be pushed later.
- Suppose a batting team gets all out. Or, if the team decides to declare very close to the scheduled lunch time, the umpires can take lunch immediately.
- In a rain-interrupted match, umpires can shift lunch times. They do so to make better use of the available playing time.
How Much Time Is Lunch Break in Test Cricket
In test cricket lunch break time is always 40 minutes. If the morning session ends at 11:30 am IST, the second session will start at 12:10 pm IST. Or say the lunch gets delayed by 30 minutes. In that case, if lunch is taken at 12:00 pm IST, play will resume at 12:40 pm IST. The time for the lunch interval is according to the MCC laws. And 40 minutes is mentioned in 12.2 – Intervals.
Time Duration of Lunch Break in Test Cricket
The time period of lunch break in test cricket is always 40 minutes. It is fixed. No matter if the lunch is taken earlier or it is delayed, the interval is always 40 minutes long. However, there is an exception. Only the match referee can order a change. Also, he needs a proper reason to do that. Majorly, it comes into effect in a highly rain-curtailed match. The officials may decide to recover lost time by adjusting the lunch break interval.
What Is the Time of Lunch Break in Test Cricket
What is the time for lunch break in test cricket? The answer depends on some factors. These are local start time, number of overs completed, number of hours played, weather or bad light, umpire decisions, and other factors.
According to the laws, the morning session ends after 2 hours of play or 30 overs. Considering test matches in India, the morning session starts at around 9:30 am IST or 10:00 am IST. So, as per the laws, lunch is taken at 11:30 am IST or 12:00 pm IST. But there are a few points to keep in mind:
- If 30 overs get completed before 2 hours, the umpires usually call it lunch.
- If the bowling team bowls fewer than 30 overs and the 2 hour quota is complete, the umpires end the first session.
- If an over is in progress at lunch time, umpires wait for that over to finish. But if a wicket falls mid-over around the same time, the umpires call it lunch.
Test Cricket Lunch Time in Other Countries
What is the lunch break time in test cricket for countries other than India? Check the table below to learn more:
| Country | Usual Test Start Time (Local) | Lunch Timing (Local) | Start Time in IST | Lunch Timing in IST |
| Australia | 10:30 AM | 12:30 PM | 5:00 PM IST | 7:00 PM IST |
| England | 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 4:30 PM IST | 6:30 PM IST |
| South Africa | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 1:30 PM IST | 3:30 PM IST |
| New Zealand | 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:30 AM IST | 5:30 AM IST |
| West Indies | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 7:30 PM IST | 9:30 PM IST |
| Pakistan | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 10:30 AM IST | 12:30 PM IST |
| Sri Lanka | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM IST | 12:00 PM IST |
| Bangladesh | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 9:30 AM IST | 11:30 AM IST |
| (Timings vary slightly by venue and match conditions.) | ||||
ICC Lunch Rules & Other Break Regulations
ICC follows the MCC “Law 12 – Intervals” for lunch. According to it, the lunch break time duration in test cricket is 40 minutes. Lunch must be taken after about 2 hours of play or when the bowling team has bowled around 30 overs. If, for some reason, the play is delayed, lunch can be taken early or later. Lunch will not start in the middle of an over unless a wicket falls right at the stroke of lunch.
Other official breaks in Test cricket include the tea break and the drinks break. The tea break comes after the second session of the day. It lasts for about 20 minutes. During each session, players also get multiple drink breaks. These are short pauses of about 5 minutes each.
Test Match Timing Rules
A Test match day normally has 90 overs. It is divided into three sessions of about 30 overs each session (2 to 2.5 hours/session). Between the sessions, players get two official breaks. These are a 40 minute lunch break and a 20 minute tea break. Lunch is taken after 2 hours of the day’s play, and tea is taken after 5 hours.
Test match timings are as per the set rules. But it can change depending on the situation. If the required overs are not completed in time, the umpires can extend the day by 30 minutes. But if the light becomes too weak later in the day, the umpires may end play early and call stumps before the scheduled time.
Lunch Break Duration Cricket
How much time of lunch break in test cricket? The answer is 40 minutes. It is fixed. No matter if the lunch is taken early or late. No matter if the test is played in India, Australia, England, or any other nation. All ICC test matches have a fixed lunch break duration of 40 minutes.
Test Match Intervals
Test matches are very long. Each day, both teams play for around 8 hours. To manage this long playing time, the day has multiple intervals. These are:
| Interval | Duration | When It Happens |
| Lunch Break | 40 minutes | After Session 1 |
| Tea Break | 20 minutes | After Session 2 |
| Drinks Break | 4–5 minutes | Every session, after 1 hour |
| Dinner Break (Day-Night Tests) | 40 minutes | After Session 1 |
Cricket Break Times—ODIs & T20Is
In limited-overs cricket, the break times are shorter than in Test matches. In ODI cricket, there is one main break called the innings break. It is taken after one team gets out or bats for 50 overs. This break lasts for about 40 to 45 minutes. Plus, there are short drink breaks of around 5 minutes during each inning.
In T20 cricket, the main break is between the innings. It is much shorter and lasts only about 20 minutes. There is no official drinks break in international T20 matches. But in the IPL, teams get strategic time outs (4 times across two innings)
Cricket Session Timings
Each day of a test match is divided into three sessions. These are the morning session, the afternoon session, and the evening session.
Morning and Afternoon Sessions
The morning session is the first session of the day. It lasts for around 2 hours. A bowling team is expected to bowl 30 overs in this session. The morning session ends with the lunch break.
How much time lunch break in test cricket? Yes, correct, it is 40 minutes. So after 40 minutes of the morning session, the second session of the day starts. It is called the afternoon session. Again, a bowling team is expected to bowl 30 overs in this session. Also, if the weather is good, the afternoon session usually lasts for 2 to 2.25 hours.
The afternoon session ends with the tea break. It lasts for around 20 minutes. After the break, play resumes. The match continues for 2 more hours (if there are no bad lights). It is the final session of the day. So, after the end of the evening session, the day ends. The umpire calls it stumps.
Lunch Break in Tests—Importance for Batters & Bowlers
The lunch break is important for batters. It can help them rest after a long time at the crease. The rest gives them a chance to cool down. They can fix small mistakes by talking to the coach. They can also discuss the game plan during this time. Plus, batters can regain energy and prepare to play longer innings.
The break is equally important for bowlers. They can recover from heavy bowling spells. During that time, their legs and shoulders relax. So, they feel less pressure on the body and get fresh to bowl more in the coming sessions. Lunch time interval is a perfect time to discuss plans for the bowling side as well.
Lunch Time Break in Test Cricket—Final Words
The lunch break time in test cricket in India today is 40 minutes. It is fixed for the bilateral series and even the WTC finals. However, the start time and end time may vary. In this article, we have shared all the information related to this. If you have read it so far, you have already upgraded your cricketing wisdom. So why not use it for good reasons?
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FAQs:
What Is the Time of Lunch Break in Test Cricket?
The lunch break in Test cricket is taken after 2 hours of play or after 30 overs. It marks the end of the first session of the day.
What Time Is Lunch Break in Test Cricket?
The lunch break in test cricket is usually taken two hours after the start of the play. The timing is around 11:30 am to 1:00 pm local time. It may vary from one country to another.
How Long Is Lunch for in Cricket?
The duration of lunch break in test cricket is 40 minutes. If the umpires call it lunch at 11:30 am IST, the second session begins at 12:10 pm IST.
What Time Does Lunch Start in a Test Match?
The lunch time in test cricket in India begins at around 11:30 am IST or 123:00 pm IST. In other countries, it varies between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm local time.
How long is the Cricket Lunch Interval?
The cricket lunch interval is 40 minutes long. It is fixed for every country. It is fixed even if the lunch is taken early or is delayed.