Cricket’s One Day International format under review
Today One day International (ODI) cricket might not be as popular as it was at the time of its inception, some 39 years ago, but still it is the most gung ho format of international cricket. Unlike the five-day format, it is swift paced and unlike the T-20s, it requires more wit than valour. But what has made ODI cricket lose its fame is one of the most frequently asked question nowadays, and the cricket fans believe that a little fine-tuning can overhaul the game, rather than rule changing.
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell feels that if ICC and players want to make the ODI format more tempting, then they should focus on on-the-field changes rather than off-field tactics. He said that the responsibility falls more on captains and they need to be more vibrant than the administration. He further added that the fans should not expect a miraculous turnaround from the suggested broken-innings format; they ought to wait for some inventive captaincy and not rely on gimmicks.
The cricketers need to show more of a risk-loving attitude towards the 50 over game, play aggressively, the way they take T-20, a 400 plus total will become a usual trait. But the players, particularly captains of the teams, are scared of taking risks and it is the lack of this approach that has pushed ODI cricket into an ostracised region.
The Australian Cricket Board (ACC) had recently shown its intent of experimenting with a split-innings one-day format in its next domestic season. Cricket Australia has gotten the feeling that by splitting the 50-over game into two innings, the game might regain its lost popularity, but what they are not realizing is that ‘with great power, comes the great responsibility’. If they, one way or the other, manage to twirl the format of ODI’s, it might entirely lose its quintessence. It can affect the batsmen adversely - who take their time to set the pace before launching into aggressive form. Bowlers, however, will get a breather, but spectators want the batsmen keep a tally and break records.
Changing the rules cannot impact the game, the way changing the way the current game is played. If the International Cricket Council accepts the Australian proposal of split-innings, the game would undergo a change that might take a minimum of 2 years to make its way into people’s hearts just like the ODI, which also took its due time to gain popularity.
To some extent the insipidness of the ODI format during the less exciting middle overs is a key factor making it mundane, especially after the initiation of T-20 internationals. It would be better to trim the number of overs than playing with the rules to make the format more exciting, the way it was trimmed from 60 to 50-overs in the 80s. South Africa and England already have abridged their domestic one day matches to 40-overs a side rather than splitting the innings.
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, has endorsed his faith in the 50-over format. He is quite hopeful about the future of the game given its capability to catch big crowds and produce considerable viewership. Lorgat said the ICC, collectively with its member boards, would keep on experimenting changes to the game’s format that would make it more tempting. He was talking to the media on the eve of the 3000th game of ODI format that was played in Southampton by the same two sides, the Ashes rivals; England and Australia, which inaugurated One Day International back in 1971.
The cricket lovers hope the changes would not spoil the quintessence of the game, which has been through its thick and thin since its inception in 1971.
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