Innings Break in Cricket
What happens during the innings break in cricket? How long it is, what teams do, and differences between formats.
The innings break is the interval between one team's innings ending and the other team's beginning. It allows players to rest, change equipment, receive coaching instructions, and consume food and drinks before returning to the field.
Innings Break Durations
| Format | Innings break duration |
|---|---|
| Test cricket | 10 minutes (between innings within a day) |
| ODI cricket | 45 minutes |
| T20 international | 20 minutes |
| IPL / T20 leagues | Variable — typically 20–25 minutes |
What Teams Do During the Break
- Batting team: reviews the total, confirms targets, receives bowling and fielding strategy.
- Bowling team: reviews their plan to dismiss the opening batters.
- Physios and trainers attend to any niggles from the field.
- Teams eat and rehydrate — particularly important in hot subcontinental or Australian conditions.
- TV teams broadcast replays, analysis, and commentary.
Tactical Use of the Innings Break
In limited-overs cricket the innings break is particularly important for the chasing team. They analyse the target, the pitch conditions (any deterioration noticed during the first innings), the field placement patterns of the bowlers, and match up their batsmen to the bowling attack they will face.
Frequently asked questions
Can teams take longer than the allocated innings break?
No — the innings break is strictly timed. If a team is not ready to come out, the umpires can call for the clock to start and overs may be docked for slow start.
Is there a rest day in Test cricket?
Rest days have been abolished in modern Test cricket. Previously, long Test series had designated rest days (often Sundays). Today, all five days are played consecutively.