Test Cricket Sessions: How Many Sessions Per Day?

While the shorter formats like ODI and T20 cricket have become more popular over the last two decades, Test cricket, the oldest format of the sport, is still considered the best of the three formats. Played over five days in white clothing, Test cricket features two innings per team, and is the longest format of cricket. Unlike shorter games in which you see batters play attacking cricket, Tests are all about technique and resilience. Winning a Test match or series brings a similar sense of pride which comes with winning a World Cup or any other major tournament, because Test cricket has its own charm which is often missing in the shorter formats. 

The answer to the question - which was the first-ever Test match - remains widely debated. But in 1877, an England cricket team travelled to Australia and played two games against the best Australian players. These two matches are now considered the very first Test cricket matches ever played.

Why Test cricket can be confusing for some people 

If you aren't big on cricket, Test cricket can seem slightly confusing to you, because it's quite different from the other two formats of the sport. Test matches last for five days, and even after all that time, there can still be no clear winner, which can be hard to understand. The rules are also more complicated, with terminology like "sessions", "follow-on" and "declaration" that aren't used in ODI and T20 cricket. All these aspects can make it difficult for non-cricket enthusiasts to understand the Test format. Sessions, in particular, are a very important part of Test cricket. They provide a breakdown of an otherwise long match. 

How many sessions are there in Test cricket?

Each of the five days of Test cricket are divided into three parts, known as sessions. An entire Test match, which comprises of four innings, lasts up to five days, so there are 15 sessions in total. Each day of play begins with the morning session, which is the first of the three sessions. The morning session lasts for around two hours. Players then take a 40-minute lunch break to rest and recharge for the afternoon session. After lunch, the second session (afternoon session) continues for another two hours. This is followed by a tea break of about 20 minutes.

Sarfaraz Ahmed and Saud Shakeel leave the field for the tea break//Getty Images

Finally, the third and last session begins after the tea break and lasts for about two hours. If the game is interrupted by bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, extra time may be added to this session. This is done to make up for lost time and try to complete the scheduled overs for the day.

Each of the three daily sessions in Test cricket usually includes around 30 overs. Within a session, the play can be further divided into smaller parts due to drinks breaks, which are typically called by the umpires. The timing of these drinks breaks isn’t fixed and can change based on different situations during the match.

While the idea is to have three sessions every day, changes can happen. For example, if it rains and play is stopped, there might be adjustments in the number of overs bowled in each session. The timing of the breaks can also be shifted to make up for lost time, ensuring that as much cricket as possible is played.

As per ICC rules, teams are required to bowl at a rate of about 15 overs per hour in Test matches. Ideally, six hours of play on each of the day including the breaks, and around 90 overs, have to be achieved. Over five days, around 450 overs need to be bowled, depending on various factors. 

Sessions play an important role in determining the strategies of the teams. For example, early in the game, the light is bright, and the pitch is fresh, which makes it easier for bowlers to get the ball to move in tricky ways. So, to start the game, teams usually pick their best opening batters who are good at handling fast, challenging balls. As the day goes on, the light changes, and the pitch gets worn out, which can make things different for players. Toward the end of the day, if there’s only a short time left to play, teams might send out a “nightwatchman.” This is a player who isn't usually one of the best batters but goes out to bat just to protect the wicket of the better players for the next day. 

Sessions in ODI cricket

The term session is relevant to ODI cricket as well. In the ODI format, there are two innings unlike the four innings in Tests. In each of the two innings, there are three sessions, usually in lengths of 15, 15, and 20 overs.