11.1 Intervals Defined
11.1.1 The following breaks are classified as intervals:
- The duration between the close of play on one day and the commencement of play on the next day.
- Breaks between innings.
- Meal breaks.
- Drink breaks.
- Any other agreed-upon intervals.
11.1.2 Law 24.2.6 considers only these intervals as scheduled breaks.
11.2 Duration of Intervals
11.2.1 Law 2.3 (Consultation with captains) determines the duration of a lunch or tea interval. This time spans from the announcement of the interval until the resumption of play afterward.
11.2.2 The interval between innings lasts for 10 minutes, commencing at the conclusion of one inning and concluding with the “Play” call to begin the next inning. However, please refer to sections 11.3, 11.5, and 11.6 for additional considerations.
11.3 Allowing for an Interval Between Innings
In addition to the provisions in sections 11.5 and 11.6,
11.3.1 If an inning concludes with 10 minutes or less remaining before the agreed time for the end of play on any day, no further play shall occur on that day. There will be no change to the start time on the following day due to the 10-minute interval between innings.
11.3.2 If a captain declares innings closed or forfeits innings during an interruption in play lasting more than 10 minutes, provided that at least 10 minutes of the interruption remains, there will be no adjustment to the resumption time due to the 10-minute interval between innings. If less than 10 minutes remain in the interruption when the declaration or forfeiture occurs, the next innings will begin 10 minutes after the declaration or forfeiture.
11.3.3 If a captain declares innings closed or forfeits an inning during any interval other than a drinks interval, provided that at least 10 minutes remain in the interval, the interval will retain its agreed duration and include the 10-minute interval between innings. If the declaration or forfeiture occurs with less than 10 minutes remaining in the interval, extend the interval as needed, and commence the next innings 10 minutes after the declaration or forfeiture.
11.4 Altering Agreed Interval Times
If, at any point during the match:
- Playing time is lost due to adverse ground, weather, or light conditions, or in exceptional circumstances.
- Players need to leave the field at times other than scheduled intervals.
The timing of the lunch or tea interval may be changed, provided both umpires and both captains agree, without contravening the requirements of sections 11.2, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, and 11.8.3.
11.5 Changing the Agreed Lunch Interval
11.5.1 If an inning ends with 10 minutes or less remaining before the agreed lunchtime, the interval will commence immediately. It will last for the agreed duration and include a 10-minute interval between innings.
11.5.2 If, due to adverse ground, weather, light conditions, or exceptional circumstances, play is interrupted with 10 minutes or less left before the agreed lunchtime, the interval will begin immediately, irrespective of whether agreement is reached as outlined in section 11.4. The interval will last for the agreed duration, and play will resume at its conclusion or as soon as conditions permit.
11.5.3 If players have more than 10 minutes remaining before the agreed lunchtime but must leave the field for any reason, lunch will proceed at the agreed time unless both umpires and captains consent to alter it.
11.6 Changing the Agreed Tea Interval
11.6.1 If an inning ends with 30 minutes or less remaining before the agreed tea time, the interval will start immediately, lasting for the agreed duration and including the 10-minute interval between innings.
11.6.2 If, with 30 minutes remaining before the agreed tea time, an interval between innings is already in progress, play will resume at the end of the 10-minute interval if conditions allow.
11.6.3 If, due to adverse ground, weather, or light conditions, or in exceptional circumstances, an interruption occurs with 30 minutes or less left before the agreed tea time, then unless there is an agreement to change the time for tea as per section 11.4, the interval will start immediately. It will last for the agreed duration, and play will resume at its conclusion or as soon as conditions permit.
11.6.4 If an interruption is already underway with 30 minutes remaining before the agreed tea time, section 11.4 will apply.
11.7 Lunch or Tea Interval – 9 Wickets Down
For the lunch and tea intervals:
If either 9 wickets are down with 3 minutes remaining until the agreed interval time, or the 9th wicket falls within this 3-minute window, or at any time up to and including the final ball of the over in progress at the agreed interval time, the provisions of Law 12.5.2 will not apply. Players must not take the interval until the completion of the over that is in progress 30 minutes after the originally agreed interval time, unless they leave the field or the innings ends earlier.
The retirement of a batter does not equate to the fall of a wicket for the purposes of this section of the Law.
11.8 Drink Breaks
11.8.1 If the umpires decide to have drink intervals on any day, both teams may avail themselves of this option. Each interval should be as brief as possible, not exceeding 5 minutes in any case.
11.8.2 Unless both captains agree to forgo it, a drink break will occur at the end of the over in progress when the agreed time arrives. If, however, a wicket falls or a batter retires within 5 minutes of the agreed time, the drink break will take place immediately. No other variations in the timing of drink intervals are permitted, except as detailed in section 11.8.3.
11.8.3 If an innings concludes or players must leave the field for any other reason within 30 minutes of the agreed drink interval time, the umpires and captains may jointly rearrange the timing of drink intervals for that session.
11.8.4 Drink intervals may not occur during the last hour of the match, as defined in Law 12.6 (Last hour of match – number of overs). Subject to this limitation, the umpires will establish the times for drink intervals, if any, before the toss and on each subsequent day no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled start of play.
11.9 Agreement to Forgo Intervals
At any point during the match, captains may mutually decide to forgo the tea interval or any of the drink intervals. The umpires must be informed of this decision.
When play is underway, the batter at the crease may act on behalf of their captain in agreeing to forgo a drink interval in that session.
11.10 Notification to Scorers
The umpires ensure that they inform the scorers of all agreements concerning play hours and intervals, including any changes allowed under this Law.
