Reserve Day in Cricket

When India were 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs, the rain interrupted play. The rain stopped and the ground staff worked relentlessly to get the game started. The umpires hinted that the game could start at 9:00 pm IST, but there was another spell of rain that pushed the Asia Cup Super-Four game between India and Pakistan into a reserve day.

Now, what is a Reserve Day?

This is basically an additional day provided for a match apart from the original day on which it is scheduled to take place. Each team must have had the opportunity to bat for a minimum of twenty (20) overs for a result to be achieved. If play does not resume by the cut-off time required to allow the minimum number of overs to be bowled to achieve a result on the scheduled day, play shall be abandoned for the scheduled day and the Reserve Day shall be used to either complete the match or replay the match.

The intention is to achieve a proper result.

How does the reserve day work?

If play is interrupted on the scheduled day, the umpires shall use the available extra time and, if necessary, reduce the number of overs to try to achieve a result on that day. In making their decisions in relation to ground, weather and light, the umpires shall aim to maximize play on the scheduled day of the match in order to achieve a result on that day, as if there was no Reserve Day available

Yesterday, that is what the umpires did. After the first interruption, the ground staff and the umpires tried their best to ensure that they could restart the match on the same day. In fact, for yesterday's match, the extra time was increased from 60 minutes to 90 minutes to ensure that the game was completed yesterday itself.

At one point in time, the umpires hinted that they were targeting to start the game at 9:00 pm IST and in that case, it would have been a 34 overs game. So, the endeavour was to try to complete the match on the scheduled day itself without taking into account the Reserve Day.

When the Reserve Day comes into effect, there are different scenarios possible.

Scenario 1:

No toss takes place on the scheduled day. The nomination and toss take place on Reserve Day and the match is played under regular playing conditions. The extra time is still applicable.

Scenario 2:

The match starts when the coin toss takes place and team nomination forms are exchanged. If the toss occurs on the scheduled day and there is no play thereafter, the result of the toss and the nomination shall be carried through to the Reserve Day.

Scenario 3:?

The match starts as 50 overs per side and there is an interruption (like yesterday at 24.1). The match is reduced to 34 overs per side (taking into account the extra time available) and play resumes (as was planned yesterday).?The play starts and after some time, it rains again, and the play is abandoned for the day. As the match had resumed as 34 overs a side, it will be continued (from 24.1 overs) on the Reserve Day as 34 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary, during the Reserve Day.

Scenario 4:?

The match starts as 50 overs per side and there is an interruption (like yesterday at 24.1). The match is reduced to 34 overs per side (taking into account the extra time available) and play is about to resume (as was planned yesterday). Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match will continue (from 24.1 overs) on the Reserve Day as the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary, during the Reserve Day.

Scenario 5:?

The match starts as 50 overs per side and there is an interruption (like yesterday at 24.1). The play is abandoned for the day (as yesterday). As there was no play possible, the match will continue (from 24.1 overs) on the Reserve Day as the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary, during the Reserve Day.

Yesterday, though there was a possibility of scenario 4, but since there was no official announcement on the reduction of overs, we can say that it was more of Scenario 5.

An interesting aspect of the Reserve Day

Even if some play had taken place on the scheduled day, the time available on the Reserve Day is full playing time (420 minutes) plus the Extra Time allocated for the match (in this case 90 minutes).

So, in this India-Pakistan match, till the time equivalent to 24 overs (bowled on the scheduled day) plus the extra time (90 minutes) is lost, there reduction of overs will not commence.

I tried my best to explain the concept of Reserve Day. In case you have further questions on the same, please feel free to ask through comments or DM me.

Asian Cricket Council

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