ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

So, What Does the Future Hold for One Day Cricket?

Is the future of One Day International Cricket under the hammer? Will T-20 cricket diminish the 50 over format?

Published
Sports
4 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

2016 has been the year of the T20s. Yes, this format of the game has been a rage for quite some time now but this year especially it has managed to radiate like never before. The T20 World Cup, the Asia Cup T20, several bilateral T20 tournaments along with the countless T20 leagues – all of these have been going on with breakneck speed and yet the audience thirsts for more.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Meanwhile, Test cricket, despite some struggles, is managing to hold its own with its devoted fans who consider it as sacrosanct. There is one problem here, though. The third format – One-Day International (ODI) cricket – seems to be withering away quietly without anyone really noticing it.

Although the International Cricket Council (ICC) will never admit this, but by shoddy scheduling and terrible promotions of the ODI matches these last few years they have sounded the death knell for this format.

Is the future of One Day International Cricket under the hammer? Will T-20 cricket diminish the 50 over format?
Indian batsman Rohit Sharma has the highest individual record in One Day International Cricket of 264 runs against Sri Lanka. (Photo: AP)

T20s are clearly the more exciting format and have the ability to bring in more viewers to the game. Hence, the barrage of T20s that we see these days. Fact is that even the administrators are more interested in the shortest format these days and it has completely taken over ODI cricket today. Test cricket has survived for hundreds of years and will survive for hundreds more. But what happens to ODIs now? What does the future hold for ODI cricket?

0

Bringing Interest Back In ODIs

The thing is, ever since the coming of the T20s, people don’t really care much for ODIs anymore. Except for some global championships like the World Cup or the Champions Trophy, people hardly get excited about this format. One can’t blame them either. ODIs seem like an elongated version of T20s to the modern fans and when we see mindless seven and five-match bilateral ODI series, viewership plummets and footfalls at the stadiums begin to dwindle with every passing game. What this format needs is an overhaul, a repackaging of some sort to breathe new life into it.

Is the future of One Day International Cricket under the hammer? Will T-20 cricket diminish the 50 over format?
Crowd in an ODI series can only been seen during the clash of top test playing nations. (Photo: BCCI

For starters, the ICC should really consider this long considered idea: of splitting matches into 25-over per innings. That is, instead of batting for 50 overs, each team will instead get to bat for two innings of 25 overs. This will, firstly, negate any advantage or disadvantage that the batting team gets by batting second in day-night ODIs. More importantly, it will bring in a new perspective and some genuine interest back in the format. At least it has to be given a try. It might very well work.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Today, limited overs cricket is heavily loaded in favor of the batsmen. Small boundaries, flat wickets and some weird rules that go against the bowlers are relegating limited overs cricket as a run fest only. And while that may work in T20s – at least for now – it goes against ODIs. To see batsmen plunder runs nonchalantly for a 100 overs can get tiresome. What will help ODIs is to bring in some changes that levels the game a bit.

Pitches need to be spiced up a bit and boundaries simply must be brought back – especially in the sub-continent – to about 70 yards straight and about 75 yards on both the square boundaries. The wide rule – particularly the leg-side one – is unreasonably severe on the bowlers and needs to be a little more lenient. Then, the two best bowlers in the team should be allowed to bowl at least 12 overs rather than the 10 that they do currently. This will bring in more excitement in tense match situations and batsmen won’t merely be able to “see off” the best bowlers.

Is the future of One Day International Cricket under the hammer? Will T-20 cricket diminish the 50 over format?
With small outfields, heavy bats, and too much of T-20 cricket played around, bowlers are hardly left with anything in modern game now. (Photo: AP)

While these changes may not necessarily revolutionize ODI cricket, they may very well bring back interest in it. That in itself would be a great move forward. ICC’s ODI league idea- a good move in the right direction It seems that ICC has finally woken up to the failing future of ODIs. It was declared last month that the ICC intends to create a new ODI league for the world top 13 countries – 10 Test teams along with Afghanistan, Ireland and possibly Nepal. In the league, which is supposed to begin from 2019, these 13 countries will play each other over three years and the top-two ones will then face-off in a play-off series to decide the eventual winner of the league.

This indeed is a brilliant plan and a move in the right direction. The requisite changes in the format aside, this league idea will definitely give ODI cricket some much needed meaning and significance which it seems to have lost over the years. With this, the irrelevant bilateral ODI series can then be chucked and people can view ODI cricket with renewed interest and vigor.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

ODI Cricket Still Has Some Hope

There’s plenty of life in ODI cricket yet. All it needs is a proper prod in the right direction, along with smart scheduling and efficient promotions. Too much of it might bring in good cash flow for the broadcasters and the respective boards, but it certainly drives the fans away.

For now, things haven’t really changed. But they must and fast. The ICC needs to be a little more pro-active instead of just talking and making and chucking endless plans. It is time for them to execute some of the innovative ideas out there and see how it goes. Smartly repackaged ODIs will not just reinvigorate the format but will also bring new life into cricket and its fans.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from sports

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×