Reference at the time of writing this article: Test Match Playing Conditions – June 2023.
The just concluded 1st test match (Hyderabad, India 2024) between India and England had an exciting finish where, England after giving away the initial lead to India after both side’s 1st innings, came back strongly to win the game and take 1-0 lead in the 5 match test series. The game concluded on day 4 after the play extended beyond the scheduled hours of play. This was possible due to a special clause in the playing condition which opens up additional time and overs to achieve the result.
Each day of a test match is scheduled for 360 minutes of play with a minimum of 90 overs to be bowled (these numbers get affected under delayed or interrupted games). Under normal circumstances, the play ends on each day when both of the above conditions are satisfied. To satisfy the minimum number of overs requirement, each day (except the last day of the test match) has up to 30 minutes of permitted overtime. Nowadays, with so many TV referrals, DRS, and slow over-rate due to other means the game generally goes into permitted overtime every single day.
Under a special clause, the day can get extended beyond these scheduled hours if there is a possibility of a result nearby. This extension of play for achieving the result is possible if there is a visibility of the game ending sooner close to lunch-time or tea-time (which falls under the extension of session category) or towards the end of the day’s play. Extension of the session for achieving the result is possible on all days of the test. However, the extension of the day for a result is possible on all days except for the last day of the test match.
Extension of play is not a default process. For the play to extend, the following conditions have to be met.
Extension is possible only if,
- A request is received from either captain.
- The umpires have to be satisfied that, the extension of play will bring about a definite result in the extended session or extended period of day’s play.
And of course, the conditions related to Ground, Weather, and Light (GWL) facilitate these extensions.
If the extensions are approved by the Umpires, then the play shall continue for the entire period of extension even if the game has lost the prospect of concluding in that extended period.
If an extension of the session is approved close to lunch or tea interval, then the play shall continue for a minimum of 15 minutes or a minimum of 4 overs (whichever is later).
In case the extension of the day is approved (like it happened in this test match) close to the end of the day’s play, then the play shall continue for a minimum of 30 minutes or a minimum of 8 overs (whichever is later). If a result is not achieved even at the end of this extension period, the game can continue only if a small number of runs are still pending with both the captains agreeing to play. Even here, GWL must facilitate the possibility of any further play.
Even after exercising all the above options, if the game doesn’t conclude then re-adjustments of sessions will be carried out for the remainder of the day’s play in case of a session extension or re-adjustment of the day’s play will be done for the final day in case of day’s play extension.
In this test, England achieved victory during the last over of this extended period on the 4th day. The last wicket fell during the last over of the day (to this extended period). If the over would have ended without the fall of the last wicket, then stumps would have been drawn for the 4th day and the teams needed to come back on the 5th day to go for the result.