Law 13
The toss
Before play, the captains toss a coin. The winner chooses whether their side bats or fields first.
What you need to know
- The toss happens on the field, with at least one umpire watching, between 30 and 15 minutes before play is due to start.
- The captain who wins the toss tells the other captain and the umpires straight away whether they will bat or field.
- Once the choice has been told to the other captain and the umpires, it cannot be changed.
Examples
Your captain calls heads, it lands heads, and they choose to bowl.
The other team bats first. In Inswing you record this on the toss screen before the first ball.
Official source
Official source
MCC Laws of Cricket · 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026)
Law 13 — Innings
Clauses 13.4, 13.5
The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026). Summary in Inswing's own words — follow the link for the official text.
Related: Innings · Basics of cricket