Reports of the death of one-day internationals have been somewhat exaggerated.
In the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, which got underway overnight in India with the Black Caps exacting revenge in a rematch of the last final between England and New Zealand, all the talk has been whether this could be the last of its kind for the 50-over format.
There are many sensible reasons why that could and probably should be the case – the rise of T20 cricket and its associated leagues across the globe, the packed international schedule and a steep decline in interest in the format, particularly when it comes to bilateral series.
It’s become the Jan Brady of cricket’s three formats and is struggling for attention, as is the way with middle-child syndrome.
But it’s still a massive money spinner for the ICC and while that is ever the case, the “traditional” white-ball format will outlast the dire predictions surrounding its future.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
The format for this tournament, like the 2019 event, guarantees broadcasters nine Indian matches – including a guaranteed Pakistan blockbuster, with a 10th or 11th if they advance past the semi-finals, and the squillions of dollars in advertising revenue that comes with that.
Content is king and this is the kind that can stuff the ICC coffers.
Cricket’s governing body is already halfway down the track in doing a deal with getting cricket into the 2028 Olympics (in the T20 format) so scaling back the amount of big-ticket items on the calendar is not on the agenda.
The MCC’s world cricket committee in July recommended that the ICC strip bilateral ODIs from the schedule when the next Future Tours Programme is drawn up for the 2028-32 cycle.
“It’s time for the global game to reset,” panel chairman Mike Gatting said at the time.
These are only suggestions and the ICC can take or leave them but it’s likely there will be a scaling back of ODIs on the schedule so that they’re primarily played in the lead-up to the next World Cup, which is slated to be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe in 2027.
And in case you missed it, hosting rights have already been decided for the next World Cup four years later.
Just like a radio quiz prank, the answer is India … with Bangladesh riding sidesaddle.
Cricket will continue to keep trying to thread the needle of having three versions at international level for as long as it keeps bringing money into the game.
It’s fine for a sport to have multiple formats but usually there’s a clear frontrunner with secondary or tertiary pursuits – futsal to football, rugby sevens, doubles to singles in tennis, 3×3 in basketball.
Even though Test cricket has now been around 150 years, it is no longer the most important for the ICC and its initial complementary format of the 50-over game is being superseded by the popularity and profitability of T20.
Like most World Cups there will be plenty of established stars bowing out of the format after this tournament like David Warner, Trent Boult, Rohit Sharma and Ben Stokes (although his one-day “retirements” are usually a ruse to skip the meaningless matches in between ICC events).
But what should be a concern is that top-liners are giving up the 50-over format at a younger age so they can cash in on T20 contracts.
South Africa keeper Quinton de Kock has announced he will only be available for the Proteas in T20s after the World Cup after already calling time on his Test career last year.
There is little doubt that it will be almost impossible for the game’s best players to commit to all three formats while also racking up two months of every year in the IPL so fewer ODIs will help on that front, if the ICC does indeed reduce that workload.
But if ODIs are rarely played over the course of a four-year World Cup cycle, then it raises the question of why bother with the tournament at all if it’s out of sight, out of mind more often than not.
Australian cricket fans don’t seem to be overly hyped about this World Cup in India.
But the engagement of fans outside of India is hardly a blip on the ICC’s radar – as long as the host nation is living and breathing every aspect of the six-week event, then it will be a success.
Marnus Labuschagne bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
It was noted by several commentators during Australia’s tour earlier this year that Indian cricket fans aren’t obsessed with cricket, they’re fanatical about Indian cricket.
The same could be said of Australia’s cricket followers.
A star-studded clash between England and New Zealand to kick off the tournament should be the kind of match that every cricket fan would want to devour.
It hurts that most matches in this tournament are only available on pay TV with a few on 9Now and their free-to-air channels but most Australian fans won’t take an interest until Pat Cummins’ team opens its campaign against India on Sunday in Chennai.
And sadly, many more won’t bother doing anything more than keeping an eye on proceedings until the last few matches of the group stage or the semi-finals, if Australia make it that far.
Peter
Roar Rookie
What One Day World Cup ? In Australia I didn't even know that it was on. It seems to me to be an endless factory line of irrelevant matches. I am so over Limited overs Cricket of all sorts. Surely the warm up games will be starting next week for the warm up competition that is the prelude to the next World Cup/Championship ...... trophy. What ever !! Who cares. Glad for the players that have relocated their lives to India and are making millions, but short of some Indian media mogul handing me a bucket load of money nothing will encourage me to watch this facile nonsense and give a damn.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Ah forgot about the old school board game! Slots right in between beach cricket and stick cricket
Rusty Brooks
Roar Rookie
Great list! However, I’d rank the Test Match board game above internet stick cricket. I’m a bit of a traditionalist, though.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Unlike some American sports or AFL, Rugby League & a few others. Normally a sport normally gains the most interest from its supporters when their own country is playing. I love cricket in all forms. Limited over cricket in my lifetime has been great for many reasons including the fact that so many more players can make a professional living playing the game they love. Imagine only test cricket being played in India with a population of 1.4 billion people? I believe all 3 forms can survive in harmony as long as the ICC & the national sporting bodies get the balance right. You need a wider range of players to fill all squads. Yes, quite a few players have the talent to play in all forms, but some don't & I don't believe there is any shame in that. Not every World Cup game will be covered on free to air TV, but if that is a major issue to you, get yourself a Kayo or Foxsports subscription.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Makes too much sense Bush. As a full blown cricket nufty, I'll watch anything (even a bit of the European T10 - for comic relief). However, if Aus is playing in a T20 or an ODI (outside of the World Cups), I wouldn't bother going or watching. They mean nothing and are just there to get money. Even the T20 World Cup is forgettable (I have forgotten who won the last one already). Give me test cricket any day - I always try to get to at least one day of the test match when it's in Perth and have even travelled to Sydney and Melbourne to watch test cricket (Adelaide is next on my list). I also watch a bit of Shield, district and community cricket. Sad life, I know.
Gilberto
Roar Rookie
I'll follow it I grew up on ODI but happy for it to die. Real cricket is 5 days, then you should have one version for the modern day. T20 is better in this sense so let it thrive. 3 formats is overkill and ODI the only one that can go
Lukestar
Roar Rookie
Well put TB but that's showing common sense which is little against $$$.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I believe there’s room for all three formats, but the 50 over game needs to show it’s more than a longer version of T20. I would loosen the chains on the bowling side by letting bowlers bowl more than 10 overs. If a bowler is really in his groove, why should he be limited to 10 overs ? The way to differentiate the 50 over game to the T20 game is to make it more about specialists rather than allrounders.
Blink
Roar Rookie
:stoked: :stoked: Australia doesn't matter to much to the World of cricket. But we think we do. Most with their eyes open note that T20s proliferate because that's where the crowds, excitement, TV coverage and money are. The dreaming dinosaurs pontificate on The Roar.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
The biggest crime against cricket is to call the T20 thing a world cup - it should be called nothing more prestigious than the T20 World Championship.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Now here's a bloke who's got his cricket priorities spot on!!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I've been a cricket follower for 50 plus years and must confess I dont ever watch T20..Not because I'm making big statements or stuff like that .But because I'm just not interested . Simply have better things to do with my time....But when we have the likes of De Kock with still years of cricket left in him removing himself from Tests and ODIs then I genuinely fear for the games future . Also cannot see South Africa hosting an ODI World Cup. Even as I type we have no power ..Every day the lights are off between 6 to 12 hours a day with the only prediction being that its going to deteriorate further as very little is being done to address this .. Its not even about the power utility promising no cuts in areas with matches .Often the power cuts are also unscheduled . So I'm afraid its just not practically possible to award hosting rights .....Also a clear message must be sent to the SA Govt that if you do not get your house in order its not business as usual .
jammel
Roar Rookie
Haha - thanks. I remember Curtley and Richie Richardson as being special. But yes in my lifetime we've bettered India, the West Indies, RSA, England and the Kiwis in ODI cricket :)
Morz
Roar Rookie
You have to be young. I grew up watching West. Indies smoke Australia year after year in the B&H World Series Cup.
The Bush
Roar Guru
There are plenty of options to reduce the calendar pressure and save the ODI World Cup, and even repair some of the damage to ODI format generally. The first thing they need to do is make the T20 World Cup a four-year event like the ODI World Cup. Having one every two years is extreme overkill. The next then they should do is that you can only play ODIs or T20Is in the twelve months before the Cup, if you're a full member nation (who should also get automatic qualification to the two tournaments). What Associates do really doesn't matter, they can play more for qualifiers etc. The Cycle would therefore be: Test Championship, ODI WC, Test Championship, T20I WC, rinse, wash and repeat. Additionally, the top nations would only play non-test cricket internationally for two of the four years. This would free up the calendar for more test cricket to be prioritised and also space for players to play in the T20 tournaments around the world. I don't love it, it's not my preferred model (I too care very little about T20 cricket, what little appeal it had has worn off), but you can't turn the clock back, the best you can do is try and structure it.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I'd much rather watch the ODI World Cup than a T20 World Cup - have almost zero interest in the shortest format but I suspect I'm in the minority. It goes Tests - daylight - ODI - daylight - backyard cricket - beach cricket - stick cricket on the internet - daylight then T20 for me.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I’m keen for the ‘T1’. But it could end up being over taken by the ‘Ttoss’.
jammel
Roar Rookie
How good was it watch the poms get plundered last night?! Entertaining. I do think this England team is a little vulnerable certainly without Morgan and Archer, and with a wounded Stokes. They are a lesser team than 2019. At least that gives Australia a bigger chance. I have India as massive favourites. But then Australia is narrowly second favourite just ahead of England/Pakistan/maybe RSA/maybe NZ.... Our chances will be helped if some of the wickets are more seam friendly that I've been anticipating.
jammel
Roar Rookie
I love Test cricket 100%. I grew up with ODIs so would love them to survive. I think they might not... Australia certainly has a history of utter dominance much of the time in ODIs, so I do hope they remain. Not many Australians truly love T20s. And T20s will come under threat globally I think from 100 ball cricket and T10s...so I am not even entirely convinced that T20 cricket is safe.
Shire
Roar Rookie
"The same could be said of Australia’s cricket followers." Or this website, considering you blokes didn't even bother to run a live blog.