Overview:
While Test matches in India typically feature lunch as the first break, followed by tea, the Guwahati Test will break with tradition.
The upcoming India-South Africa Test match at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati will adopt a modified schedule, with the lunch and tea intervals swapped. This adjustment is due to Guwahati’s position in India’s far eastern region, where sunrises and sunsets occur earlier than in other parts of the country. As a result, the match will commence at 9:00 am daily, rather than the standard 9:30 am start time typically seen in Indian Test matches.
For the first time, Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati will host a Test match. The second Test of the upcoming two-match series is scheduled to be played in Guwahati from 22 November.
As per The Indian Express, the match schedule has been adjusted to maximise playing time before sunset. The first session will take place from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a tea break from 11:00 am to 11:20 am. The second session will be held from 11:20 am to 1:20 pm, with lunch from 1:20 pm to 2:00 pm. The final session will run from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, completing the day’s play.
While Test matches in India typically feature lunch as the first break, followed by tea, the Guwahati Test will break with tradition. The schedule has been adjusted to reverse the intervals, allowing for better use of daylight and reducing the risk of losing playtime due to early sunsets.
“The decision to have an earlier tea break is due to Guwahati’s early sunsets and the earlier start. This is the first time we’ve adjusted the tea session to maximize playing time on the field,” a board official told the newspaper.
Guwahati experiences earlier sunsets than the majority of India due to its position at 90°E longitude in the easternmost part of the country. This places it about an hour ahead in solar time compared to the Indian Standard Time meridian (82.5°E), leading to earlier sunrises and sunsets, even though the whole country adheres to one time zone.
The BCCI has previously adjusted match timings for Ranji Trophy games in eastern India to manage early sunsets. These changes address the region’s daylight challenges.
Guwahati has become a key cricket hub, with Barsapara Stadium hosting major events like the Women’s World Cup opener and the England-South Africa semi-final.