Changes to county championship coin toss take effect today

Since more sides bat first upon winning the toss could it that it is batting first that gives the advantage?

To date, there have been 2202 Test matches. Teams batting first have won 749 matches, lost 707, drawn 744 and tied twice. Teams batting first have a 34.01 percent winning percentage. Teams bowling first have a 32.10 percent winning percentage. Much like winning the toss, there is a very minimal advantage (1.91%) in batting first.

However, rather interestingly, since 2000, teams batting first have a losing record. In the 722 matches played, teams batting first have won 267 matches, lost 278 and drawn 177 times. Over this period, teams batting first have a 36.98 percent winning percentage, while teams bowling first have a 38.50 percent winning percentage.

These numbers are a slightly skewed as they include Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, two teams with 15 combined wins in 151 matches since 2000. If you remove them from the equation, teams batting first have won 219 matches, lost 209 matches and drawn 156 times.

Wow! Thanks for that

To emphasise my previous point about visiting teams struggling in Test matches, I went ahead and ran the numbers.

Since 2000, in 694 Test matches, visiting teams have a record of 141 wins, 266 losses and 179 draws. Visiting teams have won 28% of Test matches, lost 47% and drawn 25% of the time. 

For comparison, visiting teams lost 41% of matches played in the 1990s, 33% in the 1980s, 35% in the 1970s and 31% in the 1960s.

The change is about visiting teams having the option of bowling first without a toss so of the statistics quoted, how many of the visiting losses took place when the visiting team lost the toss?

Sussex paid tribute to their former fast bowler Matthew Hobden before their opening home County Championship game of the season against Essex at Hove.


The 22-year-old was found dead at a private property on 2 January after celebrating New Year with friends.


A tree was planted in memory of the player at the Hove ground, while team-mates wore shirts with the number 19 and Hobden on the back in his honour.


Sussex had already made the decision to retire the number 19 shirt.


The cause of Hobden's death remains unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances, according to police.


After a willow tree was planted on the grassed area at the Sea End at Hove, a short ceremony took place, followed by a minute's silence.


Family and friends took part in a service of thanksgiving to celebrate Hobden's life in February, following a private family funeral.

In 1124 matches, visiting teams losing the toss have won 279 matches, lost 472 and drawn 373 times. So, visiting teams have lost 41.99% of matches when losing the toss and have won 24.82%.

Since 2000, visiting teams losing the toss have won 96 matches, lost 166 and drawn 88 times. So, visiting teams have lost 47.42% of matches when losing the toss and have won 27.42%. When winning the toss, visiting teams have still lost 46.80% of matches and won 29.36%.

hahahaha ...Visiting teams should practice the Coin TOSS.

in the Nets to expeience the environmental factors.

doing it in your room would be a practice in futility.

From your last few posts it would appear there is very little in it whether the visitors win or lose the toss.

Much Ado About Nothing.