Law 15 (Intervals)
1. An interval
The following shall be classed as intervals.
(i) The period between close of play on one day and the start
of the next day's play.
(ii) Intervals between innings.
(iii) Intervals for meals.
(iv) Intervals for drinks.
(v) Any other agreed interval.
All these intervals shall be considered as scheduled breaks
for the purposes of Law 2.5 (Fielder absent or leaving the
field).
2. Agreement of intervals
(a) Before the toss:
(i) the hours of play shall be established;
(ii) except as in (b) below, the timing and duration of intervals
for meals shall be agreed;
(iii) the timing and duration of any other interval under
1(v) above shall be agreed.
(b) In a one-day match no specific time need be agreed for
the tea interval. It may be agreed instead to take this interval
between the innings.
(c) Intervals for drinks may not be taken during the last
hour of the match, as defined in Law 16.6 (Last hour of match
– number of overs). Subject to this limitation the captains
and umpires shall agree the times for such intervals, if any,
before the toss and on each subsequent day not later than
10 minutes before play is scheduled to start. See also Law
3.3 (Agreement with captains).
3. Duration of intervals
(a) An interval for lunch or for tea shall be of the duration
agreed under 2(a) above, taken from the call of Time before
the interval until the call of Play on resumption after the
interval.
(b) An interval between innings shall be 10 minutes from
the close of an innings to the call of Play for the start
of the next innings, except as in 4, 6 and 7 below.
4. No allowance for interval between innings
In addition to the provisions of 6 and 7 below,
(a) if an innings ends when 10 minutes or less remain before
the time agreed for close of play on any day, there will be
no further play on that day. No change will be made to the
time for the start of play on the following day on account
of the 10 minutes between innings.
(b) if a captain declares an innings closed during an interruption
in play of more than 10 minutes duration, no adjustment shall
be made to the time for resumption of play on account of the
10 minutes between innings, which shall be considered as included
in the interruption. Law 10.1(e) (Insufficient time to complete
rolling) shall apply.
(c) if a captain declares an innings closed during any interval
other than an interval for drinks, the interval shall be of
the agreed duration and shall be considered to include the
10 minutes between innings. Law 10.1(e) (Insufficient time
to complete rolling) shall apply.
5. Changing agreed times for intervals
If for adverse conditions of ground, weather or light, or
for any other reason, playing time is lost, the umpires and
captains together may alter the time of the lunch interval
or of the tea interval. See also 6, 7 and 9(c) below.
6. Changing agreed time for lunch interval
(a) If an innings ends when 10 minutes or less remain before
the agreed time for lunch, the interval shall be taken immediately.
It shall be of the agreed length and shall be considered to
include the 10 minutes between innings.
(b) If, because of adverse conditions of ground, weather
or light, or in exceptional circumstances, a stoppage occurs
when 10 minutes or less remain before the agreed time for
lunch then, notwithstanding 5 above, the interval shall be
taken immediately. It shall be of the agreed length. Play
shall resume at the end of this interval or as soon after
as conditions permit.
(c) If the players have occasion to leave the field for any
reason when more than 10 minutes remain before the agreed
time for lunch then, unless the umpires and captains together
agree to alter it, lunch will be taken at the agreed time.
7. Changing agreed time for tea interval
(a) (i) If an innings ends when 30 minutes or less remain
before the agreed time for tea, then the interval shall be
taken immediately. It shall be of the agreed length and shall
be considered to include the 10 minutes between innings.
(ii) If, when 30 minutes remain before the agreed time for
tea, an interval between innings is already in progress, play
will resume at the end of the 10 minute interval.
(b) (i) If, because of adverse conditions of ground, weather
or light, or in exceptional circumstances, a stoppage occurs
when 30 minutes or less remain before the agreed time for
tea, then unless
either there is an agreement to change the time for tea, as
permitted in 5 above
or the captains agree to forgo the tea interval, as permitted
in 10 below
the interval shall be taken immediately. The interval shall
be of the agreed length. Play shall resume at the end of this
interval or as soon after as conditions permit.
(ii) If a stoppage is already in progress when 30 minutes
remain before the time agreed for tea, 5 above will apply.
8. Tea interval – 9 wickets down
If either 9 wickets are already down when 2 minutes remain
tothe agreed time for tea
or the 9th wicket falls within these 2 minutes or at any later
time up to and including the final ball of the over in progress
at the agreed time for tea
then notwithstanding the provisions of Law 16.5(b) (Completion
of an over) tea will not be taken until the end of the over
in progress 30 minutes after the originally agreed time for
tea, unless the players have cause to leave the field of play
or the innings is completed earlier.
9. Intervals for drinks
(a) If on any day the captains agree that there shall be intervals
for drinks, the option to take such intervals shall be available
to either side. Each interval shall be kept as short as possible
and in any case shall not exceed 5 minutes.
(b) (i) Unless both captains agree to forgo any drinks interval,
it shall be taken at the end of the over in progress when
the agreed time is reached. If, however, a wicket falls within
5 minutes of the agreed time then drinks shall be taken immediately.
No other variation in the timing of drinks intervals shall
be permitted except as provided for in (c) below.
(ii) For the purpose of (i) above and Law 3.9(a)(ii) (Suspension
of play for adverse conditions of ground, weather or light)
only, the batsmen at the wicket may deputise for their captain.
(c) If an innings ends or the players have to leave the field
of play for any other reason within 30 minutes of the agreed
time for a drinks interval, the umpires and captains together
may rearrange the timing of drinks intervals in that session.
10. Agreement to forgo intervals
At any time during the match, the captains may agree to forgo
the tea interval or any of the drinks intervals. The umpires
shall be informed of the decision.
11. Scorers to be informed
The umpires shall ensure that the scorers are informed of
all agreements about hours of play and intervals, and of any
changes made thereto as permitted under this Law.