Session (cricket)

In cricket, a session is a period of play in a match during which overs are played continuously one after the other until a break in play is called.

In Test matches, there are typically three main sessions during the five potential days of the match. These include the morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. The morning and afternoon sessions are usually separated by a 40-minute lunch break, and the afternoon and evening sessions by a 20-minute tea break. Each of the three sessions is usually 30 overs long, and is broken up further into two to three minor sessions varying in length, which are each separated by drinks breaks. The exact timing of these intra-session breaks is the umpiring team's call.

In One Day Internationals, matches are played over two innings, with three sessions in each. The three sessions in an ODI innings are usually broken into lengths of 15, 15, and 20 overs. These three sessions have short drinks breaks for the players between them. Additionally, day-time ODI matches include a lunch break in between the first and second innings. In day-night ODI matches, the lunch break is replaced by a dinner break.

Sessions of play often influence tactics a team might employ in a match, especially as natural light varies over the course of the day, and the pitch wears over the course of a match, whether one-day or Test. For example, cricketing teams usually choose opening Test batsmen who can navigate opening bowlers, who often bowl aggressively in the first session of a Test match. Similarly, Test teams often deploy a nightwatchman during the closing session of a day in Test matches so as not to lose important wickets in conditions that might be difficult for a batsman to manage.

See also

• Cricket terminology
• Playing time (cricket)
• First-class cricket
• Day/night cricket
• Laws of cricket