The Australian cricket team might be going through some sort of resurgence but even their recent dominance over England has failed to ignite public interest in the shorter formats of the game in the country.
The future of cricket has been up for continual debate ever since the glamour quotient of Twenty20 took the cricketing fraternity by storm in the early noughties.
When the one day international format came to the fore 40 years ago, it gave the sport a much-need boost and catapulted cricket into the modern era.
You can argue, pointing out that T20 adds its own excitement to the game, but despite its fanfare and over-the-top antics, it hasn’t created the hysteria that 50-over cricket generated when it first burst onto the scene.
ODIs have served as an arena for many greats of the game to exhibit their potential to the hilt, entertaining and, more importantly, inspiring fans all over the globe.
The element of craft in cricket has taken a pounding as aggression, muscle and brute force form significant components of the shorter formats.
We will never again witness players of the calibre and excellence of Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara and Jacques Kallis as we head into an era where cricket is virtually all about sixes, fours and truckloads of money.
Also, the fact we now live in an age of spontaneity has had a damaging effect on cricket thanks to the prevailing impulsive behaviour of the general public.
The 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia could be the last 50-over World Cup thanks to diminishing crowds in the last few years, which point towards an obvious indication of this quandary.
There hasn’t been a crowd in excess of 50,000 at the MCG at an ODI in the last six years.
In more recent times, the first ODI of the recently concluded series between Australia and England could only draw a crowd of 38,066.
Moreover, at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart last year, an Australia versus Sri Lanka ODI drew a paltry 8,102!
These figures clearly indicate interest in ODI cricket is diminishing at a rapid rate.
If you think T20 cricket is the reason for the demise of ODIs, think again.
The 2013 Big Bash League in Australia failed to draw huge crowds, numbers hovered around the 15-20,000 mark across the country.
Stars versus Strikers (MCG 09/01/2014) – 24,344, Stars versus Hurricanes (MCG 21/01/2014) – 21,443 and Sixers versus Hurricanes (SCG 15/01/2014) – 17,264.
T20 has been an enigma ever since it was introduced; thoroughly enjoyable with its stylised package of dance, music, fireworks and glamour, but has evolved, becoming mundane and repetitive.
Going by history, there might come a time when people find this slam-bang format mind-numbing and abandon it altogether.
Strong crowds form the fabric of any sport, so what can the ICC do to sustain crowd interest in the shorter formats of cricket in Australia?
For starters, they have to reconsider whether the game needs three formats.
Surprisingly, crowd numbers at Test cricket are still encouraging but a decision needs to be made on whether T20 and ODIs need to be pursued simultaneously and if ODIs need to be scrapped for good.
Otherwise interest in cricket in Australia could kill the sport in a nation that has a rich cricketing history.
Sudeep Saxena
Guest
I am a cricket lover and a football lover as well. I treat both the games equally. If cricket and fifa wc take place simultaneously, i will watch both the games with same interest. I give equal importance to matches b/w india-pakistan and nepal- papua new guinea. I really concern about cricket's future. Sometimes, i feel more concerned about cricket rather than my studies. I would say that cricket seems more entertaining on tv b'coz we get to see the views and replays from various cameras at different-different angles and are able to feel the game with the instantaneous make-overs with commentries simultaneously which(commentries) bring life to the game. I watch students and corporate employees playing football and cricket respectively at my college's ground and i would say that football seems more interesting when watched live in the ground. A cricket match will give the same feeling if there are frequent boundaries and a big crowd. But practically, there are boundaries not too often to maintain the high of the crowd's cheering. 1's, 2's and dot balls create a kind of void which is absent in football matches. Though a cricket match is at its best during 'close' or 'live wire' kind of situations. If we remain stuck to the traditional approach for sake of preserving the game or preserving test matches precisely, the game is going to die soon. Many pundits keep saying that t20 cricket lacks in real spirit that test cricket has. But t20 cricket is the necessity in today's fast-paced world. It is entertaining as well as time efficient. ICC should realise that it needs to introduce new teams to the global cricket arena to sustain the interest of the public worldwide. People are fed-up of seeing the ten teams playing each other everytime round a year carrying this routine untill the beginning of the world cup and repeating the same routine after the world cup for upto another world cup. Associate and affiliate members get ODI and T20I status but their efforts go to vain. How often these teams get to play against full members even after getting ODI and T20I status???? We saw in t20 wc 2014 that dutch side showed competitiveness against SA and NZ and finally defeated England. Nepal and Afghanistan have also risen very sharply and are now professional sides rather than a bunch of amateurs. There are many more teams who are making rapid improvements and need attention of a wider audience. But ICC is busy in making as much money as possible (keeping the progress of the sport at stake) which is mainly monopolied by BCCI with ECB and CA serving as the 'loot partners'. The minor teams should be given more and more chances to play against full members if they need to develop to their fullest. If ICC's policies become more liberal and favourable for associates and affiliates, positive outcomes will follow which is crucial for preventing cricket from becoming 'extinct'. In the beginning few years, we are going to see some dull matches and criticism may come alongside but gradually 'minnows' will too become equally competitive when compared to full members. Biased system needs to be fixed urgently and marketing strategies to spread cricket globally need to be more effective because football is catching up in India too and it can supress cricket's dominance here which can potentially hurt global cricket financially.
Sudeep Saxena
Guest
I am a cricket lover and a football lover as well. I treat both the games equally. If cricket and fifa wc take place simultaneously, i will watch both the games with same interest. I give equal importance to matches b/w india-pakistan and nepal- papua new guinea. I really concern about cricket's future. Sometimes, i feel more concerned about cricket rather than my studies. I would say that cricket seems more entertaining on tv b'coz we get to see the views and replays from various cameras at different-different angles and are able to feel the game with the instantaneous make-overs with commentries simultaneously which(commentries) bring life to the game. I watch students and corporate employees playing football and cricket respectively at my college's ground and i would say that football seems more interesting when watched live in the ground. A cricket match will give the same feeling if there are frequent boundaries and a big crowd. But practically, there are boundaries not too often to maintain the high of the crowd's cheering. 1's, 2's and dot balls create a kind of void which is absent in football matches. Though a cricket match is at its best during 'close' or 'live wire' kind of situations. If we remain stuck to the traditional approach for sake of preserving the game or preserving test matches precisely, the game is going to die soon. Many pundits keep saying that t20 cricket lacks in real spirit that test cricket has. But t20 cricket is the necessity in today's fast-paced world. It is entertaining as well as time efficient. ICC should realise that it needs to introduce new teams to the global cricket arena to sustain the interest of the public worldwide. People are fed-up of seeing the ten teams playing each other everytime round a year carrying this routine untill the beginning of the world cup and repeating the same routine after the world cup for upto another world cup. Associate and affiliate members get ODI and T20I status but their efforts go to vain. How often these teams get to play against full members even after getting ODI and T20I status???? We saw in t20 wc 2014 that dutch side showed competitiveness against SA and NZ and finally defeated England. Nepal and Afghanistan have also risen very sharply and are now professional sides rather than a bunch of amateurs. There are many more teams who are making rapid improvements and need attention of a wider audience. But ICC is busy in making as much money as possible (keeping the progress of the sport at stake) which is mainly monopolied by BCCI with ECB and CA serving as the 'loot partners'. The minor teams should be given more and more chances to play against full members if they need to develop to their fullest. If ICC's policies become more liberal and favourable for associates and affiliates, positive outcomes will follow which is crucial for preventing cricket from becoming 'extinct'. In the beginning few years, we are going to see some dull matches and criticism may come alongside but gradually 'minnows' will too become equally competitive when compared to full members. Biased system needs to be fixed urgently and marketing strategies to spread cricket globally need to be more effective because football is catching up in India too and it can supress cricket's dominance here which can potentially hurt global cricket financially.
Crank Yanker
Guest
Amen to that Mr Costava.
World Traveller
Guest
Sutherland and Edwards are only interested in sucking up to India. They are both lucky we won the Ashes this year. It has papered over all the other problems.
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
32,232 at the Gabba over 37,000 at the SCG over 36,000 at the MCG and 27,071 at Adelaide. What a load of rubbish about 50 over cricket being decline. Get rid of T 20 Cricket .Too short and a total money grab. Sack Sutherland Howard and Edwards from Cricket Australia.
jinesh
Guest
Frankly 20-20 has had a role in odi's losing its sheen.. now ppl just settle for the fast food.. there are lot of things..useless bi-lateral series just kill the interest..i think odi's shud only have the premium tournaments..like the world cup and champions trophy.. and icc tampers with the rules too often and the sad part is they have decided the crowd come to see only 4's and 6's.. they got 2 bouncers for the faster bowlers but wat bout the spinners..they cant bowl bouncers.. something seriously needs to be done with the dimensions of the bat.. bats are gettin bigger and boundaries are coming in...standardise these rules..they have a ring to check the shape of the ball then why not have something to check the dimensions of the bat..the edges are so thick tat outside edges go past the boundary..its just killing the game..the game administrators just want to make money..pitches have become sub standard..they aid batsmen and do nothing for the bowlers..all these i feel is slowly contributing to the death of the odi game..can you beleive there were less than 50% crowd for an india-england odi game in mumbai n kolkata last year..
Bobbo7
Guest
Cricket is my favourite sport and I much prefer it on a TV. Can't really see what is going on at the game. I think cricket is still being watched but at home. Better coverage, cheaper and crap food is also cheaper at home. I have little desire to go to games. A day at the cricket would also cost a family $150 to $200.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
No.
Mark
Guest
Bravo
JGK
Roar Guru
Maybe they are all going to watch the women's matches before hand.
JGK
Roar Guru
Canary Yellow indeed.
ChrisB
Guest
This goes to the heart of the cricket dilemma for mine. Everyone wants more countries to be competitive (or says they do) but complain if we play poorer teams, everyone wants players got and firing for tests, but whinges if they get tested from ODIs, everyone wants young guys coming through tested against international competition but complains about resting, everyone would like to see international players in domestic cricket but how can they do so if every international has to be best v best? Everyone wants fewer international matches but how do you compensate for list revenue/exposure? ( especially when most who state this complaint usually also hate domestic T20 comps like the BBL which can provide alternative revenue/exposure)
ChrisB
Guest
You make a really good point. What is the actual evidence of ODIs being in decline? Just because everyone seems to say so, doesn't mean it's true. Part of the reason I reckon is that for a lot of people around my age (early-mid 40s), they don't have the buzz they did in World Series days with the Mojo ads, great Windies, Pakistan teams, Hadlee, botham etc. but that's a factor of us being older and more being in than actual proof the format itself is in decline. The tri series format got dropped as a few teams fell into seemingly permanent decline.
ChrisB
Guest
But it's more fun to whinge, set unrealistic targets, believe unreal legends About past glories and moan about how crap it is and the sports dying. Cricket fans love that
ChrisB
Guest
Perhaps because it becomes expensive to see games live "all the time", especially for a family or because you have other things to do and can't always give up a day to watch live. Not all of us are fortunate enough to live a life of rich leisure
ChrisB
Guest
And don't you f####g forget it!
Jorji Costava
Guest
Not a fan of BBL but the ratings and attendances are impressive. If that was for A-League their supporters would be carrying on like it was the national sport and they were bigger than Ben Hur.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Totally agree
ozinsa
Guest
Ash, the whole point of The Roar is to elicit personal opinion but I just don't get how people find watching any sport on TV quite alluring. If the option is available to watch something live (particularly an Ashes series or something of note) then I would choose the live option every time.
Benjiii
Guest
19k av per game for domestic cricket is INCREDIBLE. Only the IPL can beat that. Btw, 60k+ is expected for each of the 2 T20 internationals this week at MCG & ANZ