Widespread calls to do away with the toss and let the tourists settle serve no purpose as England have been victorious in more Tests when losing it while with Australia there is not a meaningful differenceNot least among the charms of international cricket are the ceremonials contained therein. The taking of the second (and occasionally third) original ball always appears to take on a sacramental element as the umpire holds it aloft reverentially before handing it to the bowler. And then there is the toss. Other than cricket,is there any other sport in which the flip of a coin is such a tall-profile section of the preliminaries? In football or rugby there is a toss, but the teams apart, or does anyone really pay it any mind? The toss before the Boat Race has a consequence in deciding which of the Surrey or Middlesex station the crews take. But beyond that? Related: Ian Bell: ‘I’m not alert to call time on my England Test career’ Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com