Heads or tails?
It’s a simple question with huge consequences in a game of cricket, but one that might not be asked for much longer — at least in the English county circuit.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced Thursday a radical move that will see the mandatory coin toss scrapped before matches in its domestic four-day county championship, starting from next season. Instead, the captain of the visiting team will be given the option of choosing to bowl first.
If he takes that option, the toss will be rendered unnecessary. If he declines, the toss will take place.
The proposal was passed, on the basis of a one-year trial, at an ECB meeting at The Lord’s on Thursday and cricket committee head Peter Wright said the move came about partly as a result of concerns about the development of English spinners.
Rather than home teams now winning the toss and unleashing a seam-heavy attack on a pitch which makes batting hazardous, the away captain will now have the option to intervene.
“It isn’t all about spin,” said Wright yesterday. “There has been concern for some years about some Championship pitches. But it is fair to say that the plight of spin bowling in this country brought things into focus.
“Figures showing that spinners bowled only 21.5 per cent of the overs in the 2015 Championship were presented to the committee and we have come to the conclusion that the only way to bring spin bowlers more into the game is to provide better pitches for them to bowl on.
“Of course counties want to win matches, and that generally means taking 20 wickets. That has to be a reason we have seen a lot of pitches that start a bit green and damp, and get better as the game goes on, rather than deteriorating to help the spinners.”
With inputs from Reuters and PTI
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