VVS Laxman Calls For The Abolishment Of The Toss From The 1st Match Of A Test Series

Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator VVS Laxman has come up with an interesting left-field suggestion to make a level-playing field for visiting teams in Test match cricket.

Speaking to Sportstar, VVS Laxman called for the abolishment of the toss from the 1st Test of the series and giving the touring captain a free opportunity to decide what he wants to do.

With the odds already stacked against visiting teams in overseas conditions, Laxman said that giving an opportunity to the visiting team with regards to the toss, will ensure it is an evenly-contested affair.

“Since the home team enjoys a home advantage, maybe, in the first Test of the series, the touring team captain can be asked to decide what he wants to do. The home advantage comes in terms of the pitch the match is played on, so whichever team wins the toss will have the advantage. So, giving away the home advantage will at least help the touring side and it will give them a fair chance to do well in the first Test. At least you are giving them the best chance to compete,” VVS Laxman suggested.

VVS Laxman played a total of 77 Test matches away from home. The stylish Indian batter said that he used to relish playing in tough conditions but admitted that performing in the first Test of an overseas tour used to be a tricky challenge because of the lack of time in adjusting to the conditions.

With the quarantine rules coming into play due to the pandemic, Laxman believes that the situation has become even more tricky for visiting teams.

“I have always enjoyed playing overseas because it actually pushes a player out of his comfort zone, and you also want to perform in tough conditions. That always gave me and my colleagues a lot of satisfaction but performing in the first Test was always challenging. You have to get used to the conditions and now with a packed schedule and the pandemic with mandatory quarantine rules, it’s never easy for a visiting side as they will not get enough time to prepare,” VVS Laxman said.

The former Indian cricketer further added that in order to keep Test cricket ‘alive and kicking’, the quality of wickets should be taken care of.

He said that while he likes challenging wickets, he does not wants to see Test matches ending in 2 days, as was the case during the recent India-England series.

”As a former cricketer and someone who wants Test cricket to be alive and kicking, I feel that it is important that the quality of the wickets is taken care of. We do not want matches to be over in two days. It’s good to produce competitive and challenging wickets, but it should not be such where matches are over in a couple of days,” Laxman concluded.

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