Toss to remain in Tests: ICC Committee

Toss will remain the fundamental starting point of a Test match as the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee of the ICC on Tuesday decided against abolishing the spin of coin in the game’s traditional format, calling it an “integral part of the narrative”.

Led by the former India captain, the committee made a slew of recommendations with regards to poor player behaviour, and urged the world cricket’s governing body to take tough measures and restore the “culture of respect” among competing teams and its players. It also called for greater sanctions for indulging in ball tampering.

“The committee discussed whether the toss should be automatically awarded to the visiting team but felt that it was an integral part of Test cricket which forms part of the narrative of the game,” the ICC stated in a release.

However, the committee, also comprising former international captains such as Mike Gatting, Mahela Jayawardene, current international coach Mike Hesson (New Zealand) and former Australia opener and match referee David Boon, agreed that host nations should prepare quality pitches.

The bulk of the time over the last two days was spent in discussing poor players’ behaviour that has plagued the game for quite some time along with issues like ball tampering, which saw Australia’s captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner being suspended for one year due to their involvement in the scandal in South Africa.

“The group felt that excessive personal abuse and ball tampering were serious offences in the game and that should be reflected in the way in which they are dealt with.

“There was also strong support for giving the match officials more authority and subsequently greater support around their decision making.”