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Sport

Kent assistant coach Allan Donald not keen on uncontested toss in County Championship

By: Josh Fordham

Published: 06:00, 04 May 2018

Updated: 10:09, 04 May 2018

Allan Donald would like to see a return of the toss to County Championship cricket in England.

The ECB decided to scrap the traditional toss in 2016 with the away side having the option to bowl first.

In early season conditions, as seen in recent weeks, it means visiting sides go into matches with a sizeable advantage over home teams.

Assistant coach Allan Donald. Picture: Andy Jones.

Kent assistant coach Donald said: “I’m not a fan of the uncontested toss at all. We had the same issue back home in South Africa in 2013 where coaches just decided to play on green decks and that wasn’t good for us because we didn’t create thinking fast bowlers for Test cricket.

“We sat down with Cricket South Africa and formulated that it should be played on proper Test cricket pitches.

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“I’m speaking from an outsiders point of view that if you win the toss you should do what you need to do rather than rocking up knowing you are going to bowl.

“I understand what the ECB are trying to do but I would rather have a toss.”

Kent start their next Specsavers County Championship on Friday at Glamorgan with the chance to put their hosts under pressure.

Glamorgan have yet to play a match at home in the championship this season after a win at Gloucestershire and draw at Middlesex.

Kent go into the match full of confidence after a comfortable nine-wicket win at Durham and a draw with Pakistan at Canterbury.

Head coach Matt Walker and assistant coach Allan Donald. Picture: Andy Jones.

Donald said: “We expect something a lot similar to the two games we have played. It will be a bit of a slow seamer. We selected 12 up there now but we will probably stick to the same squad up in Durham if logic has any sense.

“I haven’t been to Cardiff since 2008 from a County Championship point of view, but we will expect more of the same. Maybe going around a little bit but we are getting ready to bowl first.”

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Matt Henry, Heino Kuhn and Darren Stevens were rested for Kent’s match against Pakistan and will return to the side for the Glamorgan game.

Donald says there is a good atmosphere in the Kent changing room at the moment.

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He said: “Since Antigua, this culture we have been working on and wanting to create moving forward is this honesty culture. And that’s what we have got so far.

“The intensity has not dropped off. What we have now is something quite nice and relaxed vibe in the dressing room.

“We had an optional training session on Wednesday with Matt, Heino and Stevo back just having those three guys brings so much leadership and intensity to the dressing room. We don’t have to mention that word they just bring it.

“We are in a good place but we know there’s a long way to go this season.”

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