What happens
The home captain tosses the coin, and the visiting captain calls. The winner chooses to bat or field. In most club matches the choice is the only thing that changes the order of play.
What the scorer records
- The winning captain and the choice made.
- Which side bats first, and the batting order.
- The time the toss took place, if the league keeps records.
Common mistakes
- Recording the toss result before both captains have agreed it.
- Forgetting to write the batting order, which the scorer needs for every dismissal.
Why it matters
The toss decides the innings order and the target set for the chase. The scorer writes it down before the first ball so the rest of the book has a clear start.
Citations
MCC Laws of Cricket, the section on the toss.
Match questions
Questions scorers actually ask
- 01 Who tosses the coin?
- The home captain tosses, and the visiting captain calls.
- 02 What does the winner choose?
- To bat or to field first. Some formats allow other choices in the playing conditions.
- 03 Should the scorer be present at the toss?
- Ideally yes, so the result is recorded as it happens.
