Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has suggested the toss be removed from Test cricket, with the visiting team afforded the decision to bat or bowl first.

This model was trialled in English county cricket recently, effectively evening the competition between bat and ball.

“If the toss is removed then away teams have a better chance. In South Africa, I don’t mind that. We bat on green tops anyway,’ said Du Plessis.

New issue: Bavuma – one size fits all

His remarks come in the wake of Test series defeat to India, who won the toss and batted first on all three occasions.

‘Every Test match, they bat first, they score 500, they declare when it’s dark, they get three wickets when it’s dark and when day three starts, you’re under pressure. It was like copy and paste in every Test match,’ added Du Plessis.

Vice-captain Temba Bavuma, rather than Du Plessis, was involved in the flip of the coin for the third and final Test in Ranchi. Du Plessis hasn’t won a toss in a Test away from home in six consecutive attempts.

Former captain Graeme Smith labelled the decision to have Bavuma represent the Proteas at toss ‘quirky and pathetic’.

‘It was a quirky moment, but for me, it was a little bit pathetic,’ Smith said during a commentary stint for Star Sports.

‘It just shows the mindset of the South African side. I didn’t enjoy seeing that. I would rather see the South Africa captain stand there and own his position.’

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