Batting great Mike Hussey has spoken passionately about the future of 50-over cricket, which will face a crucial challenge during the 2015 World Cup to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Cricket’s governing body the ICC announced in Melbourne on Tuesday that the MCG would stage the day-night final of the tournament on March 29.
Australia’s first game is a day-night clash at the MCG with England on February 14. The tournament will open earlier that day with New Zealand’s game against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
The semi-finals will be played at Auckland’s Eden Park on March 24 and at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former stars including Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Adam Gilchrist and India’s Kapil Dev attended the launch at Melbourne’s Docklands.
“I personally don’t (think ODI cricket is in trouble),” 2007 World Cup winner Hussey told reporters.
“It’s still very, very popular with all the crowds around the world and, from a playing point of view, I really love the game.
“It caters for so many different types of players whereas, in T20 sometimes, if you’re not batting in the top three, you might not get much of a bat.
“Fifty-over cricket caters for spin bowlers, allrounders, power players, guys who work the ball, run hard between the wickets, fast bowlers.
“It just caters for so many different types of players so I personally love the 50-over format.”
WACA president Lillee is confident the tournament will attract big crowds.
“To have it in Australia is phenomenal for the Australian people,” Lillee said.
“You’ll have great turnouts. Twenty20 is fantastic but I think the one-day World Cup is still a great event.”
Four-time winners Australia are included in Pool A with co-hosts New Zealand plus England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifiers.
Pool B contains South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and a qualifier.
The 2011 quarter-finalists Australia will play pool matches in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Hobart and Brisbane plus a tricky assignment against co-hosts New Zealand in Auckland on February 28.
The top four teams in each pool will contest the quarter-finals.
“The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is — the most sought-after prize in our increasingly global game,” ICC chief David Richardson said.
“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events — the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
“I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 internationals.”
India are the defending champions.
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