3 Cricket matches where toss played a massive role

Flipping a coin to get a game underway is a common practice in many sports, with cricket, football, tennis, and badminton being the prominent ones. But no other sport is so heavily influenced by a coin flip as cricket. In football, tennis, and badminton, the flip of the coin is used just to decide the side of the playing area they want to attack. But a lot rides on winning the toss in a cricket game on numerous occasions.

How, though?

A team that wins the toss in a game with a considerable amount of rain threat can choose to chase. A chasing team can keep a tab on the revised target, which fluctuates at the end of every over once the number of overs is reduced. Unlike the chasing team, the side batting first can never be certain of when to cut loose, as rain can reduce the innings significantly at any stage.

In addition, the nature of the pitch plays a decisive role in a captain's decision to bat or bowl first after winning the toss. If a pitch has a green cover of grass, then the captain winning the toss usually prefers to bowl first and unleash his pacers on the opposition. But the same captain wouldn't hesitate to bat first if it’s a belter.

On that note, let's take a look at three matches where the flip of the coin played a massive role in influencing the outcome of the game:

#1 England vs India, 3rd Test, August 2021, Headingley

Virat Kohli was one of the most aggressive captains to have led India. He made several bold calls during his tenure, but not every such call brought a productive result. Virat elected to bat first in the third Test against England in August 2021 at Headingley, and India gifted England the advantage they had after winning the toss.

The decision to bat first on a spicy wicket proved suicidal. England's pace battery comprising James Anderson, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, and Sam Curran ripped India's batting order to pieces, and the tourists were bowled out for just 78 in 40.4 overs.

England replied with a mountain of 432, and India had no chance of coming back into the game due to such a huge first‑innings deficit. India posted 278 in their second innings after Ollie Robinson's five‑for and lost the game by 76 runs.

#2 Australia vs England, The Gabba, Brisbane, Ashes 2002

Perhaps the most iconic on this list and one that Nasser Hussain is still reminded of, despite having retired from the game and carved a successful career for himself in broadcasting.

It was the Ashes opener down under, and Hussain had the opportunity to bat first on a good batting deck at the Gabba in Brisbane. However, the England captain, for reasons best known to him, chose to field and shot himself in the foot. Australia, riding on a 197 by Matthew Hayden, strode to 492 in the first innings, and that caused irreparable damage.

England replied with 325, but that was not enough. They were set a target of 464, and it proved 384 too many for the tourists as they suffered a chastening defeat.

#3 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 Final

The 2021 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is remembered for its successful chases. Chasing was the formula that bore fruit for teams, as 29 out of 45 games were won by teams chasing, and the side batting first had the last laugh on only 16 occasions.

Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise when Australia captain Aaron Finch chose to field when the coin fell his way in the final in Dubai against the Kiwis. While the Kiwis posted a challenging 172 on the board with the help of an 85 by skipper Kane Williamson, it wasn’t enough to test the Aussies.

An unbeaten 50‑ball 77 by Mitchell Marsh guided Australia to their maiden T20 World Cup title with eight wickets and seven balls to spare.