Cricket: Steve Waugh on getting rid of the toss in Tests: 'I think that's not such a bad thing'

West Indies fast-bowling great Michael Holding has twice backed Ricky Ponting's idea in columns penned for Wisden India, and now Steve Waugh has said he's open to the idea. Photo / Getty Images

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh says he is open to a radical push from Ricky Ponting and Michael Holding to get rid of the toss from Test cricket.

Under Ponting's proposal, the away side would choose who bats first in order to counteract any advantage the hosts could gain from preparing a favourable pitch.

"I don't mind that, I think that's not such a bad thing," Waugh told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"At the end of the day I think there's probably too much emphasis placed on the toss and the conditions away from home.

"I don't mind the authorities looking at some other options."

West Indies fast-bowling great Holding has twice backed Ponting's idea in columns penned for Wisden India.

Holding believes eliminating the toss will force home sides to prepare competitive surfaces.

Waugh said Australia's failure to adapt to English conditions had cost them the Ashes.

"They played poorly. Their batting technique was astray from players of that calibre," Waugh said.

He said modern cricketers should be able to perform in any conditions.

"There may have been a couple of selections that didn't go their way, but I was there at the Lord's Test and they played exceptionally well," Waugh said.

"It looked like they were going to win the last couple of Tests.

"I'm not sure where the wheels came off."

-AAP