The toss of a coin really doesn't seem right. Particularly when it gives a huge advantage to the team that wins it and especially when the weather and pitch are variable.
The toss of a coin really doesn't seem right. Particularly when it gives a huge advantage to the team that wins it and especially when the weather and pitch are variable.
So how do we decide who bats first?
We blindfold one of the umpires, toss him up numerous times ( as in giving the birthday bumps)until he's totally disorientated, then set him down to find one of the 2 captains in a "gottcha! ". The other captain who eludes him thereby wins the toss.....
Only a suggestion of course.....and it could take some time.
The point is, as we know, that weather condition and the pitch can affect the outcome of a match.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
The point is, as we know, that weather condition and the pitch can affect the outcome of a match.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
That is possibly the strangest thing I've ever read concerning cricket
The point is, as we know, that weather condition and the pitch can affect the outcome of a match.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
England were shite.
After the choas of the England innings, SA finished on 75-1, that says it all
The point is, as we know, that weather condition and the pitch can affect the outcome of a match.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
That is possibly the strangest thing I've ever read concerning cricket
It wasn't suggested by me but are you saying weather conditions, don't give a team an advantage, if they choose to bat or bowl first?
The point is, as we know, that weather condition and the pitch can affect the outcome of a match.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
That is possibly the strangest thing I've ever read concerning cricket
It wasn't suggested by me but are you saying weather conditions, don't give a team an advantage, if they choose to bat or bowl first?
In many sports weather plays A part. Take golf for instance when the tee off times are announced for the first 2 days of a competition the players who go out earl on the first day go out late on the second. But you sometimes get going weather in the morning on day one and the next day the weather changes and it's good in the afternoon. Nothing you can do about it you just have to hope that over a period of time it evens out.
Root said he would have bowled first anyway so coin toss didn't matter in this game
That doesn't mean it doesn't matter, because Captains have been known to make mistakes, when assessing the conditions.
Maybe we should start giving the supporters in the stands a chance to vote then on whether their team should bat or bowl first?
Not sure why you can't see the point?
Let's take a football match, if it's pissing down with rain, then it's the same for both sides. And therefore no advantage, are you following?
But in cricket, if it's incredibly sunny, that potentially lends itself to the team batting first and if it continues to be sunny throughout that teams innings, then hey ho, they could make hay. Still following?
The second team then has to bat in overcast conditions, and on and off rain, making batting conditions completely different and therefore potentially making it harder for the team batting second, to match the team batting first.
So in my opinion, that's an unfair advantage.
You don't have to agree but you also don't have to be larky about it!
Root said he would have bowled first anyway so coin toss didn't matter in this game
That doesn't mean it doesn't matter, because Captains have been known to make mistakes, when assessing the conditions.
Maybe we should start giving the supporters in the stands a chance to vote then on whether their team should bat or bowl first?
Not sure why you can't see the point?
Let's take a football match, if it's pissing down with rain, then it's the same for both sides. And therefore no advantage, are you following?
But in cricket, if it's incredibly sunny, that potentially lends itself to the team batting first and if it continues to be sunny throughout that teams innings, then hey ho, they could make hay. Still following?
The second team then has to bat in overcast conditions, and on and off rain, making batting conditions completely different and therefore potentially making it harder for the team batting second, to match the team batting first.
So in my opinion, that's an unfair advantage.
You don't have to agree but you also don't have to be larky about it!
a) By the very nature of the game, there isn't a way of avoiding teams batting and fielding at different times to each other.
b) This century, it's about equal on teams batting or fielding first winning matches anyway.
Root said he would have bowled first anyway so coin toss didn't matter in this game
That doesn't mean it doesn't matter, because Captains have been known to make mistakes, when assessing the conditions.
Maybe we should start giving the supporters in the stands a chance to vote then on whether their team should bat or bowl first?
Not sure why you can't see the point?
Let's take a football match, if it's pissing down with rain, then it's the same for both sides. And therefore no advantage, are you following?
But in cricket, if it's incredibly sunny, that potentially lends itself to the team batting first and if it continues to be sunny throughout that teams innings, then hey ho, they could make hay. Still following?
The second team then has to bat in overcast conditions, and on and off rain, making batting conditions completely different and therefore potentially making it harder for the team batting second, to match the team batting first.
So in my opinion, that's an unfair advantage.
You don't have to agree but you also don't have to be larky about it!
I can see your point, I was just making a joke. But someone mentioned that the toss in this match was not important, as both captains were going to do the same thing anyway. You said that doesn't matter as captains make mistakes. I disagree that it does not matter as if we assume Root won the toss and bowled, and it was the wrong call and SA win the test match, then it's more Roots mistake than the weather. Yes captains do that, can also do that in a toss of a football match.
Statistics show it has not affected the game IMO, so I don't feel any change is necessary.
Also, in England, it could be lovely & sunny so you decide to bat.........after an hour or so it could turn cloudy & overcast, the ball starts swinging & you end up being 5 down at lunch.
Also I believe the pitch has something to do with why a captain decides to bat or bowl first - a Test match is supposed to last 5 days - you can't just take the weather conditions on the morning of day 1 into account & nothing else.
From what I saw yesterday & today it was our bowling yesterday (not pitching it up enough) & our batting this afternoon (losing 5 wickets for 30 runs) that have got us into this situation
Of course the toss does matter but there is no other way to do it. In this match it is mattereered less than in many tests. In the first session yesterday we were quite unlucky to only take 1 wicket before lunch when Anderson and Broad beat the bat quite often in good bowling conditions. In the afternoon session conditions changed and SA looked pretty comfortable. A superb spell by Broad got us back in the game. We failed to use the new ball although conditions again favoured batting. Today we have to say our batting was poor. Although conditions weren't great, to blame the conditions and the toss is ridiculous. Our batting technique is appalling at times, It is as simple as that. The more that that Nassar Hussain waffles on the worst it gets. All he can say is "play your natural game", No - adapt your game to fit the circumstances and the situation! This is so obvious but baffles some of our players.
The toss of a coin really doesn't seem right. Particularly when it gives a huge advantage to the team that wins it and especially when the weather and pitch are variable.
Not a total solution, but i quite like what they do in County cricket nowadays, which is the visiting captain has the choice of what to do, and if he cant decide then they toss. Stops doctored wickets, and would maybe level it up for visiting nations.
Not a total solution, but i quite like what they do in County cricket nowadays, which is the visiting captain has the choice of what to do, and if he cant decide then they toss. Stops doctored wickets, and would maybe level it up for visiting nations.
I agree. I actually think this would be more significant in international cricket as the difference between home and away pitches is huge. It would certainly stop the doctoring of pitches by the home teams cricket board.
You said that doesn't matter as captains make mistakes.
No I didn't say that,someone said that if Root had won the toss, he would have bowled, it's then not the same and probably he would have made a mistake.
You said that doesn't matter as captains make mistakes.
No I didn't say that,someone said that if Root had won the toss, he would have bowled, it's then not the same and probably he would have made a mistake.
Thats exactly what you said. The toss in this particular match has had no impact on the result.
The more i think about it, i cant see any logic for 6 bowlers. I remember it wasnt that long ago we used to play with 4 bowlers, plus Colly as 5th dobber.
Comments
Only a suggestion of course.....and it could take some time.
If the conditions in Nottingham today, are anything like those in London, overcast, then the ball can swing much more.
I don't know if it was sunny on Friday when S A were batting but if it was, then that gives them an advantage, if not, then bloody England are shite;)
I don't know what the answer is, but it has been suggested, that both teams have equal amount of overs on day 1, so each get an opportunity to take advantage or not.!
After the choas of the England innings, SA finished on 75-1, that says it all
Nothing to see here !!
Take golf for instance when the tee off times are announced for the first 2 days of a competition the players who go out earl on the first day go out late on the second.
But you sometimes get going weather in the morning on day one and the next day the weather changes and it's good in the afternoon.
Nothing you can do about it you just have to hope that over a period of time it evens out.
Let's take a football match, if it's pissing down with rain, then it's the same for both sides. And therefore no advantage, are you following?
But in cricket, if it's incredibly sunny, that potentially lends itself to the team batting first and if it continues to be sunny throughout that teams innings, then hey ho, they could make hay. Still following?
The second team then has to bat in overcast conditions, and on and off rain, making batting conditions completely different and therefore potentially making it harder for the team batting second, to match the team batting first.
So in my opinion, that's an unfair advantage.
You don't have to agree but you also don't have to be larky about it!
b) This century, it's about equal on teams batting or fielding first winning matches anyway.
Statistics show it has not affected the game IMO, so I don't feel any change is necessary.
Also I believe the pitch has something to do with why a captain decides to bat or bowl first - a Test match is supposed to last 5 days - you can't just take the weather conditions on the morning of day 1 into account & nothing else.
From what I saw yesterday & today it was our bowling yesterday (not pitching it up enough) & our batting this afternoon (losing 5 wickets for 30 runs) that have got us into this situation
Today we have to say our batting was poor. Although conditions weren't great, to blame the conditions and the toss is ridiculous.
Our batting technique is appalling at times, It is as simple as that. The more that that Nassar Hussain waffles on the worst it gets. All he can say is "play your natural game", No - adapt your game to fit the circumstances and the situation! This is so obvious but baffles some of our players.
Stops doctored wickets, and would maybe level it up for visiting nations.
You said that doesn't matter as captains make mistakes.
No I didn't say that,someone said that if Root had won the toss, he would have bowled, it's then not the same and probably he would have made a mistake.