Allan Border calls on ICC to scrap coin-toss in Test cricket

The ICC chose to keep the coin-toss in Test cricket this year but that has not stopped Allan Border becoming the latest legend of the sport to demand it is scrapped.

The former Australia captain has joined the likes of Sir Ian Botham, Ricky Ponting and current South Africa captain Faf du Plessis to argue the toss should be abolished, in favour of the away side choosing whether to bat or bowl. Border believes there should be a 12-month trial of playing Tests without a toss.

“I’m in the camp for no toss and letting the visiting side decide,” he told Fox Sports. “It shouldn’t play such an important role in the game but it has become that way. All visiting sides feel like they get stitched up by pitch preparation.”

Despite a maiden century from Theunis de Bruyn, South Africa were the latest team to lose away as they were thrashed by Sri Lanka in a series dominated by spin.

Sri Lanka won both tosses and batted first before their spinner ran through South Africa. Rangana Herath took six wickets to move within one of Richard Hadlee (431), who is eighth on the list of Test wicket-takers.