Saturday, 22 November turned out to be truly historic for Test cricket — not for one, but two major reasons.
First, for the first time in the history of traditional Test cricket, the tea break was taken before lunch. This happened during the second Test of the two-match series between India and South Africa in Guwahati.
In this match, after the first session, players went for tea instead of the usual lunch break — something unheard of in regular Test cricket.
The reason behind this unusual schedule is that sunrise and sunset occur earlier in Northeast India, increasing the chances of bad light in the evening. To avoid losing playing time, the session timings were swapped so that lunch comes after the second session.
Second, an extraordinary coincidence took place for the first time in Test cricket history during the Ashes — the oldest rivalry in the sport.
In the first Test between Australia and England in Perth, all three innings began with a wicket falling before a single run was scored.
- In England’s first innings, Mitchell Starc dismissed Zak Crawley for 0 before any run was scored.
- In Australia’s first innings, Jofra Archer removed Jake Weatherald with the score still at 0.
- In England’s second innings, Starc once again dismissed Zak Crawley for 0, making it three innings in a row that started with a wicket instead of a run.
Thus, the day became a rare and historic one for Test cricket for two completely different but remarkable reasons.