India vs Australia: Darren Lehmann bats for discarding toss in upcoming series

Pune: Australia coach Darren Lehmann is in favour of doing away with the toss, and feels that flip of the coin won’t have any bearing on the result of the upcoming Test series in India.

Lehmann has already expressed his reservations about the toss and feels that a visiting side should be given the option of choosing whether to bat or bowl.

“We won four tosses last time we were here and lost 4-0,” Lehmann said of the defeats that kickstarted a nine-Test losing streak in the sub-continent.

“You’ve still got to play well if you win a toss,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

“My views on the toss is that it should just go anyway, that’s the way I’ve always been. Whether you’re here or Australia, it doesn’t matter.”

The Australian coach said he is expecting friendly pitches to be prepared in the four-Test series, starting Thursday in Pune.

“They produce good wickets, so looking forward to good five-day Test (pitches) that deteriorate over five days,” Lehmann said.

The series will witness two new Test venues in the host country, with Ranchi and Dharamsala set to host the third and fourth Tests respectively.