In this edition of “How’s That” we will look at the various breaks in play that are termed as intervals. As previously discussed, one duty of the umpires before the game starts is to ensure that both captains and scorers are aware of the timing and duration of all intervals.
An interval
– The period between the close of play on one day and the start of the next day’s play.
– Intervals between innings.
The following shall be classed as intervals/ scheduled breaks:
– Intervals for meals.
– Intervals for drinks.
– Any other agreed interval.
Duration of intervals
An interval for lunch or tea shall be of the duration determined under Law 2.3 (Consultation with captains), taken from the call of Time before the interval until the call of Play on resumption after the interval.
An interval between innings shall be 10 minutes, commencing from the close of an innings until the call of Play for the start of the next innings. In addition:
- If an innings ends when 10 minutes or less remains before the time agreed for close of play on any day, there shall be no further play on that day. No change shall be made to the time for the start of play on the following day on account of the 10-minute interval between innings.
- If a captain declares an innings closed during an interruption in play of more than 10 minutes duration, provided that at least 10 minutes remains of the interruption, no adjustment shall be made to the time for resumption of play on account of the 10-minute interval between innings, which shall be considered as included in the interruption. If less than 10 minutes remains of the interruption when the captain declares the innings closed, or forfeits an innings, the next innings shall commence 10 minutes after the declaration or forfeiture is made.
- If a captain declares an innings closed during any interval other than an interval for drinks, provided that at least 10 minutes remains of the interval, the interval shall be of the agreed duration and shall be considered to include the 10-minute interval between innings. If less than 10 minutes remains of the interval when the captain declares the innings closed, or forfeits an innings, the interval shall be extended as necessary, and the next innings shall commence 10 minutes after the declaration or forfeiture is made.
Changing agreed times of intervals
If at any time during the match, either Playing time is lost through adverse conditions of ground, weather, or light or in exceptional circumstances, or the players have occasion to leave the field other than at a scheduled interval, the time of the lunch interval or of the tea interval may be changed if the two umpires and both captains so agree.
Changing agreed time for lunch interval
If an innings ends when 10 minutes or less remains before the agreed time for lunch, the interval shall be taken immediately. It shall be of the agreed duration and shall be considered to include the 10-minute interval between innings.
Furthermore,
- If because of adverse conditions of ground, weather or light, or in exceptional circumstances, a stoppage occurs when 10 minutes or less remains before the agreed time for lunch, then, whether or not agreement is reached, the interval shall be taken immediately. It shall be of the agreed duration. Play shall resume at the end of this interval or as soon after as conditions permit.
If the players have occasion to leave the field for any reason when more than 10 minutes remains before the agreed time for lunch, then, unless the umpires and captains together agree to alter it, lunch shall be taken at the agreed time.
Changing agreed time for tea interval
The tea interval is allowed to be changed under the following circumstances:
- If an innings ends when 30 minutes or less remains before the agreed time for tea, the interval shall be taken immediately. It shall be of the agreed duration and shall be considered to include the 10-minute interval between innings.
- If, when 30 minutes remains before the agreed time for tea, an interval between innings is already in progress, play shall resume at the end of the 10 minute interval, if conditions permit.
- If, because of adverse conditions of ground, weather or light, or in exceptional circumstances, a stoppage occurs when 30 minutes or less remains before the agreed time for tea, or the captains agree to forgo the tea interval, as permitted the interval shall be taken immediately. The interval shall be of the agreed duration. Play shall resume at the end of the interval or as soon after as conditions permit.
Lunch or tea interval–9 wickets down
For the lunch interval and for the tea interval:
if either 9 wickets are already down when 3 minutes remains to the agreed time for the interval, or the 9th wicket falls within this 3 minutes, or at any time up to and including the final ball of the over in progress at the agreed time for the interval, the interval will not be taken until the end of the over that is in progress 30 minutes after the originally agreed time for the interval, unless the players have cause to leave the field of play or the innings is completed earlier.
For the purposes of this section of Law, the retirement of a batter is not to be considered equivalent to the fall of a wicket.
Intervals for drinks
- If on any day the umpires determine that there shall be intervals for drinks, the option to take such drinks shall be available to either side. Each interval shall be kept as short as possible and, in any case, shall not exceed 5 minutes.
- Unless as permitted the captains agree to forgo it, a drinks interval shall be taken at the end of the over in progress when the agreed time is reached. If, however, a wicket falls, or a batter retires within 5 minutes of the agreed time then drinks shall be taken immediately.
- If an innings ends or the players have to leave the field of play for any other reason within 30 minutes of the agreed time for a drinks interval, the umpires and captains together may rearrange the timing of drinks intervals in that session.
- Intervals for drinks may not be taken during the last hour of the match (Last hour of match–number of overs). Subject to this limitation, the umpires shall determine the times for such intervals, if any, before the toss and on each subsequent day not later than 10 minutes before play is scheduled to start.
Agreement to forgo intervals
At any time during the match, the captains may agree to forgo the tea interval or any of the drinks intervals. The umpires shall be informed of the decision. When play is in progress, the batter at the wicket may deputise for their captain in making an agreement to forgo a drinks interval in that session.
Scorers to be informed
The umpires shall ensure that the scorers are informed of all agreements about hours of play and intervals and of any changes made thereto as permitted under this Law.
Source: Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring (Law 11)
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