Adam Gilchrist’s prediction in The Age that One Day International cricket will be dead in three years is right on the money. The only thing that can save it is, well, money.
The one dayer has become something of a middle child. Solid old big brother Test cricket is off doing his own thing, seemingly unaffected by the world. The fans are fussing over little T20, admiring how bright and cute the little fella is.
Meanwhile, ODI seems to just be standing in the corner, only getting attention when the public are forced to listen to a boring story about his school grades because Test is in another country and T20 is asleep.
The ODI was invented in the 70s to bring viewers, spectators, and money back into the cricket establishment.
It was easy to grasp for both punters and purists. It was exciting. It was family friendly. There was always something to occupy the attention. Games could be played at night – great for viewers and spectators wanting to attend.
The problem for the 50 over format is that its role is now being fulfilled by the 20 over game. In fact, the previous sentences about ODI history are remarkably similar to the story of the T20, just without the rebels and boycotts.
The shorter format is basically just taking the 20 most exciting overs of a one day game (the start and end) without the middle, first to second gear, single pushing core.
T20 is definitely the new vogue for the cricket fan. This can be seen simply by comparing the domestic crowd figures of the 20 over Big Bash League and the 50 over Ryobi Cup.
There have already been four regular season BBL games this year with higher attendances then last year’s Ryobi Cup final. I know when this writer got his cricket draw for the summer in the mail, he groaned at the thought of 10 meaningless ODIs.
T20 has also taken over the role as innovator. I never really warmed to the whole ODI power play idea, especially as they were always used as soon as possible. Then T20 bought in those lovely glowing stumps when they bails are dislodged. Seriously, I hope that it takes off, especially for potential run outs and stumpings.
Have a buzzer for when a bat touches a line, lights or buzzer first? No more ageing third umpires still trying to work out remote controls! (I would actually like to see field umpires given a tablet, such as an iPad, to do the review themselves).
I would rather see two Twenty20 games, for 80 exciting overs, then a one dayer with 40 of them. It would be easy to go on about T20 being the future of ‘casual cricket’, but I think the point has been made. So what position does the one day international now hold?
Firstly, it is still a money spinner. Particularly due to the fact you can fit a lot more advertising into 100 overs then you can into 40 (though the shorter format is trying hard).
I’m sure the Board of Cricket Control India would like to keep as many forms of the game going as possible. We have also seen how the ICC can stretch a World Cup out to take a potentially infinite amount of time, heck; they even turned the lights out in the West Indies to stretch the game out a bit.
So there is potential for more cricket, and let’s face it, the ICC has never been scared of more cricket.
Perhaps ODIs will become the breeding ground for future Test players, due to the higher perceived amount of ‘pure’ strokes. Perhaps there will be some new ground breaking rule that will revitalise one dayers.
I doubt it. If one dayers survive for longer than Gilchrist predicts, it will be on a life support pumping in dollars and not much else.
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