County Championship coin toss scrapped
GRENADA, GRENADA - APRIL 21: Denesh Ramdin (L) the captain of West Indies tosses the coin as England captain Alastair Cook calls heads and opts to bowl during day one of the 2nd Test match between West Indies and England at the National Cricket Stadium in St George's on April 21, 2015 in Grenada, Grenada. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The coin toss that decides whether a team bat or fields is to be scrapped in the County Championship next season.
The ECB confirmed the change will be in both divisions in an attempt 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.