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Steve Waugh backs Ricky Ponting’s no toss in Tests idea

Steve Waugh said modern cricketer are expected to bat in any conditions.

Steve Waugh said modern cricketer are expected to bat in any conditions © Getty Images
Steve Waugh said modern cricketer are expected to bat in any conditions © Getty Images

Steve Waugh supports the idea of removal of toss from Test cricket, given by former teammates Ricky Ponting and Michael Holding. According to Ponting’s proposal, the away side would choose who bats first in order to prevent any advantage the hosts could gain from preparing a favourable pitch. Meanwhile, the West Indian legend believes that the hosts will be forced to prepare competitive surfaces once the toss is eliminated from the longer format of the sport. READ: Dennis Lillee resigns as WACA president after a decade

According to a report from Cricket Australia, Waugh said: “I don’t mind that, I think that’s not such a bad thing. At the end of the day I think there’s probably too much emphasis placed on the toss and the conditions away from home. I don’t mind the authorities looking at some other options.” However, the former cricketer made himself clear that the toss was not to be blamed for the Australian debacle in the recently ended Ashes in England and rather failing to adapt the English conditions was the reason behind losing the Urn. “They played poorly. Their batting technique was astray from players of that calibre,” Waugh said. READ: Michael Clarke opts out of Big Bash League

The 50-year-old suggested that modern cricketers are expected to play in any given conditions. There may have been a couple of selections that didn’t go their way, but I was there at the Lord’s Test and they played exceptionally well. It looked like they were going to win the last couple of Tests. “I’m not sure where the wheels came off.” Eoin Morgan thanks Angus Fraser after England’s victory over Australia one-off T20I at Cardiff

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