Mumbai: Toss will remain the fundamental starting point of a Test match as the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday decided against abolishing the spin of coin in the game’s traditional format, calling it an “integral part of the narrative.”

Led by the former India captain, the Committee, in its two-day meeting in Mumbai, made a slew of recommendations with regards to poor player behaviour, and urged the world cricket’s governing body to take tough measures and restore the “culture of respect” among competing teams and its players. It also called for greater sanctions for indulging in ball tampering.

“The committee discussed whether the toss should be automatically awarded to the visiting team but felt that it was an integral part of Test cricket which forms part of the narrative of the game,” the ICC stated.

However, the committee, also comprising former international captains such as Mike Gatting, Mahela Jayawardene, current international coach Mike Hesson (New Zealand) and former Australia opener and match referee David Boon, agreed that host nations should prepare quality pitches keeping the World Test Championship in mind.

Some of the suggestions with regards to Code of Conduct include:

• Raising the sanctions associated with ball tampering;
• Creating a new offence for offensive, personal, insulting, offensive or orchestrated abuse;
• The consideration of the introduction of a new offence of attempting to gain an unfair advantage;
• Creating a Code of Respect;
• Match referee to have the authority to downgrade or upgrade a level of offence or sanction.