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The mandatory coin toss is to be scrapped in the County Championship next season, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed.
The change is effective in both divisions and aims to encourage better pitches for four-day cricket.
An ECB statement read: "The visiting captain will be offered the opportunity of bowling first.
"If he declines, the toss will take place as normal. But if he accepts, there will be no toss."
Who gives a toss...
25/11/15
The toss could be scrapped in County Championship Division Two matches next season under proposals being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The ECB's executive board are said to be discussing the plan today (Thursday) after it was recommended by its cricket committee (what else would they need a committee for?).
If it is approved a one-year trial will take place in 2016 to try to improve pitches and encourage spin bowlers.
The away team would choose whether to bat, bowl or still have a toss if the pitch condition was uncertain. (and if the away team wins the toss is there another toss? Who decides that the pitch is too difficult to categorise, the away captain or the umpires?)
The toss will remain in County Championship Division One and domestic limited-overs cricket.
23/11/15
With record / improved attendances around the country in 2015 for all competitions, will the Muppets at Lord's fiddle with the successful formula?
2016 Fixtures and the debate.
13/11/15
After the One Day Cup in September, a draw wasn't made for the groupings for 2016 as traditionally happens; one school of thought (otherwise known as a well sourced rumour) is that some counties want the competition regionalised to reduce the road miles travelled by clubs. The ECB is supposed to discussing this issue and are yet to make a decision.
The 50 overs one day cup, on its rebirth in 2014 was a July/August competition but it is thought that it will be shifted to June/July with play on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays (not particularly worker friendly, so who are they looking to attract?).
The T20 Blast, devised as a family friendly competition, is set to remain as the Friday night blokes' booze-fest of the last couple of years a move set to disappoint some county CEOs.
The 2016 fixtures are expected later this month.
The Mail Online interpreted the committee's findings slightly different to the BBC's breaking of the story......
ReplyDeleteVisiting teams could be given the option of bowling first in division two of next year’s county championship – but a coin will still be tossed, as per tradition, if the away captain would rather bat.
Reports had suggested that the toss would be scrapped altogether at Thursday’s meeting of the ECB’s executive board, following a recommendation by the board’s cricket committee.
But, assuming the recommendation is acted upon, visiting captains in 2016 will be automatically offered the chance to bowl. Should they be unsure about the conditions, a toss can still take place.
On this basis, if applied to div 1,Chris would win 50% of the toss per season without a coin in sight.If he decided not to bowl it would be back to square one.[not a knock at Chris ,just a reflection on his bad luck with the call].
ReplyDelete"but pitches would be prepared in a way to be fairer to the away side who may or may not have a strong bowling attack" and all home sides have quality spinners don't they....
ReplyDeleteDiv 2 will have some added interest unless all pitches are prepared "fair" and then with the lack of quality bowling, mediocre batsmen fill their boots and there are lots of boring draws as a consequence. I hope not.
Either stick with tradition and keep the toss or give the away captain the option to bat or bowl with the onus on him to make a decision based on what he judges to be the nature of the wicket prepared by the home groundsman with no option of a toss. The toss gives the home side, with theoretically better ground knowledge, a 50% better chance of doing their preferred option. Either method ought to result in captains with a better knowledge of different wickets, hopefully.
Too late the decision has been made.
DeleteThe mandatory coin toss is to be scrapped in the County Championship next season, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed.
ReplyDeleteThe change is effective in both divisions and aims to encourage better pitches for four-day cricket.
An ECB statement read: "The visiting captain will be offered the opportunity of bowling first.
"If he declines, the toss will take place as normal. But if he accepts, there will be no toss."
The recommendation came from the ECB's cricket committee, which includes ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, England team director Andrew Strauss and former England coach Andy Flower.
The committee's chairman, Peter Wright, said a decision on whether to extend the trial would be taken at the end of the 2016 season.
Yes that is the same Peter Wright, Notts chairman.
DeleteAndrew Gale, captain of county champions Yorkshire, described the decision as "absolute madness".
ReplyDeleteHe added on social media: "If the pitches are bad, why have no points been deducted in past few seasons?"