ECB to experiment with coin toss in 2016

On the eve of the first day-night Test match, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed it will trial another innovation in 2016, which will see no mandatory coin toss in the County Championship.

The visiting team in each championship fixture will be given the chance to field first. Should they decline to take up the option, a toss will then take place.

It is hoped the change - criticised in certain quarters - will lead to better pitches being produced for four-day cricket, after concerns were expressed over the number of green seamers apparently being prepared to suit medium-pace bowlers.

ECB cricket committee chairman Peter Wright said: "By giving the away team the option of bowling first, we hope the home side will be encouraged to produce the best possible four-day pitch.

"It is fair to say that the plight of spin bowling in this country brought things into focus.

"Figures showing that spinners bowled only 21.5 per cent of the overs in the 2015 Championship were presented to the committee and we have come to the conclusion that the only way to bring spin bowlers more into the game is to provide better pitches for them to bowl on.

"[The change] will be good for cricket in general, and not only for spinners: batsmen should also benefit, from better pitches which will lead to them facing more spin bowling; and if pitches start drier, the ball may scuff up a bit more and produce more reverse swing.

"We did originally consider introducing this as a trial in one division only but after further discussion and debate we have decided to extend this to both divisions of the County Championship. We believe this is an innovation which will be watched closely well beyond the County Championship.

"We will then need to assess how successful the trial has been at the end of the 2016 season before deciding whether to continue with this."