One day cricket is becoming an increasingly complicated format for cricket lovers.
In the T20 age, one day matches can appear ponderous and are becoming increasingly marginalised in the cricketing calendar.
However, the paradox is that the biggest international prize in world cricket is still the 50-over World Cup, to be held in Australia in 2015.
For this season at least, one day cricket holds an important position in the schedule.
Domestically, the format of the one day competition has undergone numerous changes since it was introduced in 1969-70, with frequent competition format changes and even different teams being added to the traditional state teams (New Zealand and the ACT).
However, Cricket Australia have now found a competition format that not only works for the players’ schedules, but will help Australia at the World Cup.
The current carnival-tournament format, taking place over three weeks at the start of the season, replicates the playing conditions of a major international tournament.
Last year, the entire tournament took place in Sydney, played at Bankstown Oval, Hurstville Oval and North Sydney Oval, which hosted the final.
This year, the tournament is split between Brisbane and Sydney, which means all teams and players are exposed to travelling and staying away for a tournament, along with playing in different conditions.
NSW player Ben Rohrer, when asked about the new format on GEM in the match between NSW and Queensland at the Gabba on Friday, said that all the players enjoy the new tournament and both appreciate and benefit from being able to focus on one format exclusively.
Australian selector Andy Bichel told Ian Healy in commentary that performances in this tournament could affect their thinking for the World Cup squad.
Young players, such as Queensland’s 25-year-old Simon Milenko, who scored 54 from 39 on debut against NSW on Friday, as well as fringe players like Ben Cutting are exposed to high-level tournament play early in their careers. This shows they can cope with playing in this situation.
For the spectators, there are pros and cons.
Playing all the games in Sydney means fans of the other state teams are relegated to watching it on TV, although as the games are mostly televised on free-to-air there is still access.
For spectators in the host cities though, having the games played at smaller grounds, like Allan Border Field in Brisbane, is a huge bonus. They are able to get up close to the players and enjoy a better connection with the game.
The smaller grounds also tend to have smaller boundaries than the Test venues, and North Sydney Oval was certainly small enough for fans to be treated to a multitude of sixes last year, reminding them how explosive one day cricket can be.
I’m not sure where next year’s tournament will be played, but I would like to see it move around the country. Interest generated among local spectators, who will only see domestic one day cricket live sporadically, will give the competition added prestige.
The tournament moves to Sydney after this weekend’s matches in Brisbane, with the final taking place at the SCG on 26th October. The round-robin matches will be played at North Sydney Oval, Bankstown Oval and Drummoyne Oval over the next two weeks, giving Sydney based Roarers the chance to catch some early season one day cricket before the World Cup.
One day matches are sandwiched in character between the stoicism of first-class cricket and the slap and tickle of T20. It could be argued that one day cricket is fading into insignificance as a result.
But as long as there is a World Cup, there will be a place for one day cricket, and by playing domestic one day cricket in this tournament format, Australian cricket is giving its stars the best possible preparation.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
India keeps one day cricket relevant.
Ash
Guest
There might have been the odd game once in a blue moon that got anywhere close to 10k. thats not good enough
Ash
Guest
I'm sorry but this feels like complete BS. when did domestic cricket ever average 10,000 fans ? genuine question. anyone have any actual stats to back it up ?
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
"The World Cup keeps one day cricket relevant" -- you mean it actually was at some stage?
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Ye that's true enough. And I guess it is the price we pay for professionalism. And it's not just cricket that is behest by these problems, rugby union tours used to have midweek games too, now it's only the Lions tours that maintain some semblance of tradition.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
There still are tour games, just nowhere near as many. Sides used to play first class games for am onth befopre playing the opening Test. Now they play one or two, and sometimes the games are not even FIrst Class. Australia invited India to play two games this summer, the BCCI chose to play one three day game because of limited over commitments. England still has something closer to a traditional schedule, at least against the larger nations. There are often three county games before visitors play the first Test in England. Its part of being a more professional game. Tour matches don't make money, through crowds or televsiion, therefore they don't get played.
Maggie
Guest
I do! Go the Blues!
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I know what you mean Timmuh, I do remember thinking how stupid it was to deprive fans anywhere other than Sydney the chance to see the one day comp last year, and I was pretty irritated about not being able to go to any of the games. I've kind of come around to the thinking behind it though, but I do hope it will move around the country a bit in future years. The lack of smaller first class standard grounds could be an issue. I agree with you about the tour games, for a lot of people in England in particular, seeing tourists play county sides at small county grounds was a huge deal and the only opportunity to see these stars in the flesh. Most of the tourists to England do play county sides at various points... I remember watching the 2005 Ashes tourists play at Chelmsford, and I think a couple of years later India played the same ground... Perhaps it doesn't happen so much over here for whatever reason?
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I so wish the games could be spread across the country more, particularly into regional areas, but Nine won't broadcast them unless most are in Sydney where the bulk of their equipment and people are based. That we actually got a second city hosting this time is a surprise. It is compunded by some other cities not having a smaller ground which is regarded as ListA capable. On the statement, "one day matches can appear ponderous and are becoming increasingly marginalised in the cricketing calendar" I am not so sure this is true at international level. A lot of Limited Over Internationals are still played. Probably too many. What has gone by the way-side are tour games, which has taken away the ability of visting teams to acclimatise and made the home advantage arguably bigger than ever.
Johnno
Guest
Back in the 90's the Sydney 1st grade final Bankstown V Sutherland got 10,000 to it's day 1 of the 3-day final. The Waugh brothers and Mcgrath played, was full strength and was a lot of interest. Lucky to get 1 spectator to a final now.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I agree with you Dan, the smaller grounds are awesome for the spectators and I'm a huge fan of state sides playing at the smaller grounds. Allan Border Field is, for me, the perfect venue in Brisbane for anything other than an international. And congratulations to your cousin, it was a great knock at a tough point in the match.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I am also a gen-y-er and my favourite format is first class cricket. All my best cricket memories involve sitting with my Granadad at Essex watching a County Championship game. But I also like one day matches, I can honestly take or leave twenty20, but it's good for a bit of a laugh with some mates. I agree with you Rellum, it's a shame to see such dismal attendances at the grounds, perhaps the condensed format is actually hurting the viewing figures for this competition? It will be interesting to see how many people turn up at the Gabba for today's match.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is depressing to see such low crowds to games that only 15 years ago would be over 10,000. I ask all one the Roar, who still cares if their state wins the one day cup or the Shield?
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I might be one of the rare few who loves all cricket. Test is still the best though. ODi's are very tactical and are good for players when there is not Shield or International tests going on. T20 is keeping cricket herself relevant. It creates interest in the game, and then hopefully develops spectators into total cricket lovers. I agree though, the World Cup seems to be the most coveted prize. It should be the #1 test ranking. Could a test world cup develop? I think it could, but it would need to be carefully scheduled.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I might be one of the rare few who loves all cricket. Test is still the best though. ODi's are very tactical and are good for players when there is not Shield or International tests going on. T20 is keeping cricket herself relevant. It creates interest in the game, and then hopefully develops spectators into total cricket lovers. I agree though, the World Cup seems to be the most coveted prize. It should be the #1 test ranking. Could a test world cup develop? I think it could, but it would need to be carefully scheduled.
Dan
Guest
I do like the new format, the condensed nature of the comp and the fact it's on free to air tv generates some interest which can only be good for the domestic game You can also get very close to the action at grounds like north sydney which was great last year -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Dan
Guest
I'm gen y and I prefer test cricket over anything Also Simon is my cousin so I was pretty chuffed to see him top score for the bulls on debut yesterday -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
ODI cricket shouldn't be about how many 6ixes are scored. I don't like lots of action packed 6ixes in ODI. I prefer ODI cricket in the 80's and 90's when 250 was a big score and only happend about 15% of the time. And 220 under lights at the SCG you would be favourites to win 70% of the time. I prefer the Dean Jones or Micheal Bevan ODI cricket style of accumaliting a high strike rate via lots of singles and haveing a 90-95 Strike-Rate that way. Obviously Gen-Y love T-20 cricket and prefer 4's and 6's, I much prefer 80's and 90's ODI cricket where getting a century was a big deal, and big hitters only came on in the 1st 15 overs, and the last 15.