The Five-Day Test Match: Sessions, Rest Days, and Daily Schedule
A five-day Test match follows a precise daily schedule — three sessions of play with breaks, specific start and end times, and provisions for weather delays. This guide explains exactly how a Test match day is structured, why three sessions are played, and how the schedule affects match outcomes.
A five-day Test match consists of a maximum of 30 hours of play — six hours per day across five days. Each day is divided into three sessions of approximately two hours each, separated by a 40-minute lunch break and a 20-minute tea break. Play typically begins at 11am local time and ends at 6pm, with the lunch break from 1pm and tea from 3:40pm. These times can be adjusted for weather, poor light, or by agreement — but the structure of three sessions per day is fundamental to Test cricket.
The Daily Schedule
Standard Test day schedule: Session 1 (Morning): 11:00am - 1:00pm (2 hours, 120 minutes). Lunch break: 1:00pm - 1:40pm (40 minutes). Session 2 (Afternoon): 1:40pm - 3:40pm (2 hours, 120 minutes). Tea break: 3:40pm - 4:00pm (20 minutes). Session 3 (Evening): 4:00pm - 6:00pm (2 hours, 120 minutes). Overs per session (approximately): 22-25 overs each, total 90 overs per day. A team bowling 14 overs per hour on average completes the required 90 overs in the time available.
Minimum Overs Requirements
The ICC requires a minimum of 90 overs to be bowled per day in Test cricket. If over-rates fall short of this target, overs are made up at the end of the day — extending play beyond the scheduled 6pm close. Captains can be fined for maintaining slow over-rates (below 15 overs per hour in Tests). In practice, many Test days finish slightly over 6pm as teams make up lost overs. Rain and bad light reduce overs; any shortfall must be made up when possible.
Last Hour and Minimum Overs
In the last hour of each day's play, a minimum of 15 overs must be bowled regardless of the clock — this prevents captains from delaying play deliberately to avoid bowling through a difficult period. If 15 overs cannot be bowled due to bad light or rain, the day's play ends. The last hour rule creates tactical complexity: a bowling captain may try to bowl slowly at 5:50pm to protect their bowlers from the last hour; umpires monitor this and can penalise excessive slowness.
Frequently asked questions
How many sessions are played in a Test match day?
Three sessions are played per Test match day: a morning session (approximately 11am-1pm), an afternoon session (1:40pm-3:40pm), and an evening session (4pm-6pm). Each session is approximately two hours long, separated by a 40-minute lunch break and a 20-minute tea break. Total scheduled play per day is six hours (approximately 90 overs).
How many overs are bowled per day in Test cricket?
The minimum required is 90 overs per Test match day. At the standard over rate (15 overs per hour), 90 overs takes exactly six hours — the scheduled playing time. If weather or bad light reduces overs below 90, overs are made up later in the day or on subsequent days. Captains are fined for maintaining over-rates below the minimum.
What is the 'last hour' in Test cricket?
The last hour of each Test day's play is a designated period during which a minimum of 15 overs must be bowled regardless of the clock. This prevents deliberate slow bowling to avoid a difficult final period. If bad light or rain prevents 15 overs from being bowled in the last hour, play ends for the day.