Early Sunsets Force Schedule Flip at Guwahati Test: India vs. South Africa Breaks Reversed
Tea Before Lunch Due to Eastern Location
GUWAHATI:The upcoming Test match between India and South Africa at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati will feature a significant and unusual adjustment to the standard playing schedule, with the order of the lunch and tea breaks being reversed.
The alteration is a direct response to Guwahati’s location in the far eastern part of India, where the sun rises and sets considerably earlier than in other match venues across the country, limiting the available daylight hours for play.
To maximize playing time and ensure the full complement of overs can be bowled each day before sunset, the match will begin at 9:00 am daily. This is a half-hour earlier than the traditional 9:30 am start time for Test matches held in India.
In an unprecedented move for a non-day/night Test in India, the players will take the tea break before the lunch break. This strategic reversal of intervals is designed to make the most of the early daylight.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have reportedly agreed to the revised schedule. The measure mirrors similar adjustments previously implemented for domestic competitions, such as the Ranji Trophy, in India’s eastern and northeastern regions to account for the unique geographical challenge of early sunsets. The Guwahati Test is slated to be the first-ever Test match hosted at the Barsapara Stadium.
