English county cricket removes Toss system

After much speculation, English county cricket is finally doing away with the 272 year old tradition of the toss system. According to new rules, in county cricket, the visiting team will be given the option to bowl first. If they disagree, only then will there be a coin toss.

Former England coach Andy Flower feels county cricket pitches are designed to favour medium pacers and even if they succeed there, they won’t be of much help in international games. He told ESPNCricinfo, “The pitches are a real problem. Spin bowlers don't develop because the medium pacers bowl their overs and batsmen are not exposed to quality spin. "But when you get to international cricket, the pitches are completely different, and the qualities that proved successful in county cricket will be of little use. Dibbly-dobbly bowlers are not going to win you test matches.”

The new rule is expected to reduce the much used home-advantage. Officials hope that this system will encourage home teams to set up higher-quality pitches. They also feel that this rule will prompt development of spin bowlers which will help England on spin-friendly pitches like those in India.

Though coin toss is used in a number of sports, it is cricket where the system has proved to be most vital. The pitch condition can change as the game progresses and become totally different for the team batting second. Curators generally prepare a pitch which is advantageous for the home team. In England pitches generally have damp grasses to suit their bowlers while in India, pitches are designed to favour spin.

However, there also have been instances when a team winning the toss couldn’t put it to good use. In Brisbane match of Ashes 2002, England captain Nasser Hussain won the toss and decided to bowl first. Australia won the match by 384 runs.

Though the new toss system has received a lot of appreciation, it has been criticised too. Cricket traditionalists have urged not to change the existing rule. Before the final decision came out, The Telegraph had requested, “Please don't scrap the coin toss from cricket.” Captain of Yorkshire, Andrew Gale said the change was “absolute madness”. He wrote on Twitter, “So no coin toss next year if away team doesn't want it?! absolute madness.”

So no coin toss next year if away team doesn't want it?! absolute madness. — Andrew Gale (@GaleyLad) November 26, 2015