Most new county seasons bring a raft of new changes, but 2016 will see a cricketing first, with the traditional coin toss scrapped for first-class matches.
A small slice of cricketing history was made on Sunday, as Sussex skipper Luke Wright, Somerset captain Chris Rogers, Surrey’s Gareth Batty and Warwickshire’s Ian Bell all opted to bowl – without flipping a coin – under new rules.
The rules allow the visiting captain to bowl first should they chose, by simply informing the umpires and the home captain, meaning the ordinary coin toss will be rendered unnecessary.
But if the visiting team want to bat first, the toss will take place as normal.
It is a move brought in by the ECB to encourage positive cricket and bring fast bowling and mystery spin back into the game.
It was proposed be a committee including ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss and current Kent stalwart Rob Key.
Peter Such, the ECB’s lead spin coach, said: “For a number of years pitches have been a major talking point in the county game, because they have such a huge bearing on the cricket that is played, firstly impacting on team selection and then influencing the brand of cricket played.
“I feel this is a way for the game to balance itself, because the statistics show us it hasn’t been balanced in the County Championship in recent seasons – and specifically, that it has been balanced against spin bowling, and fast bowling, and has therefore not been preparing batsmen or bowlers for the challenges of international cricket.”
A number of captains and coaches from around the county circuit have argued for and against the idea.
Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale said: “What disappoints me is I like putting on my stripy Yorkshire jacket for the toss. Now I might not get that opportunity.
“I just think in sport in general, everywhere in the world, everyone talks about home advantage. Isn’t that why it’s so good when you watch a football team away from home – you want them to win because they’re against the odds to start with? Why try and change that?”
Lancashire coach Ashley Giles, however, supported the move. He said: “I think it’s something worth trying. There have been issues with the pitches in the last few years, and that in combination with the dearth of spin bowling in the country, I think it’s a good option.
“If it doesn’t work, we can change it back. But I don’t think it’s that drastic that it’s going to have that big an effect on sides.”