4-day Test match: What changes?

Cape Town - The Proteas will make history when they become the first team ever to play in a four-day Test match on Boxing Day.

They take on Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth and, to add even more spice to the occasion, the match will be a day/night, pink ball clash. 

Naturally, there will be some things to get used to. 

Cricket South Africa (CSA) sent out a statement on Wednesday explaining some of the changes that come with a shortened format. 

Play will start at 13:30 and end at 21:00. 

1st session: 13:30 - 15:45

Tea: 15:45 - 16:05

2nd session: 16:05 - 18:20

Supper: 18:20 - 19:00

3rd session: 19:00 - 21:00

Further changes:

- 6 ½ hours of play / minimum 98 overs per day

- Usual 30 minutes overtime available to complete the minimum overs

- 2 intervals, spanning a combined 60 minutes (this is the current provision we have in place for day/night Tests and provides flexibility for scheduling over 4 days)

- Maximum scheduled session length is 2 ½ hours, with the minimum 2 hours

- 30 minutes available to make-up for lost time on the day

- No make-up time carried over to subsequent days.

- Follow-on becomes 150 runs (rather than 200 runs) as per the Laws of Cricket