Outside Edge: Why the no-toss trial deserves to be given a chance

This week’s round of County Championship matches was notable for some fine individual performances but few decisive results. Lancashire were impressive against Nottinghamshire and Neil Wagner may turn out to be one of the more inspired overseas signings of the summer. In Division 2, Leicestershire have half as many victories after one game as they managed in the whole of 2015. Whoop!

Some will look at the number of draws and wonder at the wisdom of the ECB’s no-toss trial. The aim of the initiative was to encourage counties to produce better wickets, which would in turn bring spinners into the action more effectively on the final day. So far though, the primary consequence of the change is that sides are racking up big first innings scores and matches are petering out – every member of Warwickshire’s XI had a bowl as their game against Middlesex reached stalemate. Spinners, moreover, aren’t taking wickets, with the notable exception of Jeetan Patel.

None of this, however, should seriously undermine the merits of the new approach. No spin bowler was likely to be churning out match-winning hauls in April, after all. And as James Anderson pointed out, if fast bowlers work hard for their wickets they can get still “get rewards” even on true pitches, which will surely stand England in good stead when it comes to seamers making the transition from county to international cricket. By giving away teams the option to bowl first, the ECB has made the right call – let’s give the idea a chance before we toss it away.

The one upside of Warwickshire giving every member of their team a bowl at Lord’s was that it gave Tim Ambrose the distinction of having a hand in dismissals both as wicket-keeper and bowler. He stumped century-maker Sam Robson off Jeetan Patel, before shedding the gloves for only the second time in his career and bagging the wicket of Adam Voges. In 198 first class games, Ambrose has one wicket for one run from eleven balls. It’s a sterling effort.

It is a reminder too of the joy to be gained from watching any sportsman being forced into a new role: the left-back who ends up between the sticks when the goalie is sent-off; the egocentric tennis player who decides to have a go at doubles; the night-watchman who scores a century. But the greatest of these is the bowling wicket-keeper. MS Dhoni looked the part as an occasional first-change seamer, but it is Tim Zoehrer whose transition sticks in the mind most memorably.

On Australia’s tour of England in 1993, made famous by the emergence of Shane Warne, Zoehrer – back-up keeper to Ian Healy – put his own leg-breaks to good use. He bowled a remarkable 87 overs in tour matches, picking up 12 wickets at 20.83, topping the squad’s first-class averages.

With the first tests of the summer just around the corner, a number of contenders pressed their claims for a place in England’s starting line-up this week. Sam Robson broke records in scoring over three hundred runs for Middlesex against Ambrose et al, while Adam Lyth also made his case for a recall with a century against Hampshire.

At the County Ground in Hove, Tom Westley scored 86 to save Essex’s top-order from first-innings collapse against Sussex. But it was an unbeaten century by Alastair Cook in the second innings which secured a draw and perhaps drew a line under the great helmet debate – Cook having been ordered to wear a regulation lid after it was spotted that a week earlier he had batted with an old-style, moveable grille.

Health and safety dictates there is wisdom in regularising batters’ headwear; and indeed in requiring that helmets be worn. But extending the requirement to any fielder standing within eight yards of middle stump (except those behind square on the off-side) seems overly prescriptive. Will umpires have to measure the distance each time a fielder takes up position? Helmet manufacturers will at least be quids in.

Having endured tough times on the field in recent years, it is good to see the staff at Leicestershire CCC have retained a sense of humour. Like many clubs, Leicestershire are increasingly looking to create new revenue streams – Grace Road is now a venue for gigs, corporate hospitality and even weddings. Fortunately, “you don’t have to be a huge cricket fan” to hold your wedding reception at the ground, reassures the Leicestershire website. But where better place could there be? After all, as the site goes on: “Grace Road has been the scene of many famous partnerships over the years, so we’d be thrilled to help you celebrate the most important day of your life.” Groan…

It should be noted that other grounds offer the same possibilities – it is, for instance, also possible to tie the Alan Knott at Kent County Cricket Club.

@willjgore