Does the toss of the coin dictate the results of Test matches?
In the current Ashes series, with the exception of the Edgbaston Test, the team who has won the toss has won the match. The importance of the toss was emphasised at Trent Bridge.
While no team can be excused for getting out for 60, imagine the confidence of the Australians if they had bowled first and taken early wickets.
Furthermore, since the beginning of the last Ashes series in 2013, Australia has lost nine Test matches. Of these, Pup has lost the toss on eight occasions.
While this data represents only a small sample, it poses an interesting question about the importance of the coin toss. How can the toss of a coin be made fairer?
Suggestions have been made in the past to remove the coin toss and to take it in turns to ‘win the toss’. This simply wouldn’t work. Imagine the flat hard pitches that would be created when the home side was “winning the toss” (always bat first). And the green tops that would be presented when the home side was “losing the toss” (opposition is always unsure about what to do).
So here’s an idea. Keep the toss. Keep the uncertainty. But the team that loses the toss are allowed to make one change to their team line up before the start of play.
How would this work?
Steve Smith could walk out to the toss at The Gabba next summer with both Nathan Lyon and Fawad Ahmed named in his team. If he wins the toss, we have two spinners available to bowl the Kiwis out on a drying and cracking deck on the fourth and fifth day. If he loses the toss, Smith could trade Ahmed for an additional paceman to bring impact on the green-tinged deck on the first morning of the Test.
Winning the toss no longer has the same impetus.
Consider the Adelaide Test match versus India last summer. Imagine if Australia had the option of carrying two spinners? The nation’s hopes wouldn’t have rested squarely on Nathan Lyon’s shoulders on day five. Would we have really played three pace bowlers if we knew that we would bat first?
It’s time to introduce two sides to the toss of the coin.
In the meantime I’ll be tuned in at 7:30pm tonight to see how the coin falls – it may well decide the match.
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