Terrible tossing

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 28

Terrible tossing

When Glenn Turner failed to call correctly in the cricket test with India this week at Bombay, it probably convinced present-day cricketers that New Zealand never wins a test toss. The record has certainly been a sorry one in recent years, but in its 123 test matches, New Zealand captains have won 59 tosses and lost 64. The last five years have been the worst, by far. New Zealand lost all five tosses against the West Indies in 1971-72, all three against Pakistan in 197273, all three against Australia (in Australia) in 1973-74, both tosses against England in 19 7475, all three against Pakistan and the first one against India on the present tour. In its last 26 test matches, New Zealand has won the toss only five times. Some New Zealand skippers, however, had good records. Tom Lowry (1929 to 1931) won five of his seven; “Curly” Page (1931-32 to 1937) won four of seven; Walter Hadlee (1945-4 G to 1950-51) won four and lost four. He was followed by Bert Sutcliffe who in 1951-52 won the toss in both his tests as captain. Merv Wallace (1952-53) lost both his tosses. Geoff Rabone (1953-54 to 1954-55) won four of seven and Harry Cave (1955-56) won five and

lost four. After him, John Reid was New Zealand captain for a long time (1955-56 to 1965-66). He won 17 tosses and lost 17. Murray Chapple lost in his only test as captain (1965-66). Barry Sinclair (1965-66 and 1967-68) won three times out of three. Then there was Graham Dowling (1967-68 to 197172). He won 10 and lost nine.

The worst performers were the most recent ones. Bevan Congdon (1971-72 to 1974-75) won only four tosses in 17 matches and Glenn Turner, who began in 1975-76, has won once and lost six times.