Follow UsBCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the second Test between India and South Africa, which will be played in Guwahati, will start at 9.00 AM and will witness the rare phenomenon of Tea being taken before Lunch.
Test matches in India usually start at 9.30 AM with stumps at 5.00 PM (including the extra half hour), but the Guwahati Test will witness a 9.00 AM start with toss at 8.30 AM, owing to early sunrise and sunset in the Northeast part of the country.
"It is a practical decision," Saikia told ESPNcricinfo.
"In winters, sunrise and sunset are very early here in north-east India. By 4pm the (day)light recedes and you can't play much after. Because of that we have decided to start early, so play will start at 9 am."
Lunch and Tea being reversed means that the first break will be from 11.00 AM to 11.20 AM. Lunch will be taken at 1.20 PM, and the final session will run from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM, with play possible to be extended till 4.30 PM.
Tea taken before Lunch is a phenomenon that was observed in the initial day-night Tests in Australia, but it’s pretty rare for a day Test. However, despite the first Test also being played in the Eastern part of the country - Kolkata, which will also witness early sunrise and sunset - play at the Eden Gardens will start as per usual timings, with the Test being a ‘conventional’ one.
The first Test in Kolkata will be played from November 14, while the second Test in Guwahati will start on November 22.