New Delhi, Oct 30: The second Test between India and South Africa, scheduled in Guwahati’s Barsapara and starting November 22, might feature a swapping of breaks with tea taken after the first session and lunch being called during the second session in order to counter the early sunset during the winter months in eastern India.
Unlike Test matches in India, which start at 9:30 am and whose scheduled close of play is 4:30 pm, the game in Guwahati will begin at 9 am and end at 4 pm.“There is a possibility that first break will be tea break from 11 am to 11:20 am while lunch could be taken at 1:20 pm to 2 pm. The post tea session will be from 2 pm to 4 pm. In Guwahati, normally the sun sets by 4:15 pm. Swapping breaks is a possibility that could be included in the playing conditions,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.When an Assam Cricket Association (ACA) official was contacted, he said: “We haven’t yet got any official notification from the BCCI. We can confirm that Assam’s home Ranji Trophy games starts at 8:45 am and ends at 3:45 pm. The first break is lunch at 11:15 am.”If implemented, the proposed swap of lunch and tea breaks would mark a rare but practical deviation from traditional Test match scheduling, underscoring the unique geographical and climatic challenges of hosting international cricket in India’s eastern frontier.
With daylight fading much earlier in Guwahati during the winter months, the adjustment could ensure uninterrupted play and minimize time lost to poor visibility — a concern that has often plagued late-afternoon sessions in the region. For players and spectators alike, it would mean an early start to proceedings but potentially smoother continuity through the day’s play. The Barsapara Stadium, which has steadily emerged as a key venue in India’s cricketing map, will now be in focus not just for the contest between two heavyweight sides. (PTI)
