Can we now finally lay to rest 50 over cricket?

[Stewie]

Not many 50 over games recently and I have to say I didn’t even miss them at all. Tests and T20s provide me more than my fix of cricket. But really Test cricket is where it’s at... just absorbing stuff. I know they keep talking about test cricket dying and the jury might still be out in that one..

BUT!!! I think 50 over sticker has already died!

Am I the only one who feels that way?

 

[Rafa]

The Real Cricket World Cup will always be the 50 over Cricket. It has a legacy that goes past five decades. Can't say it should die or else Global Tournaments of Cricket will lose its prestige.

 

[Rana]

No thanks

T20i has no value and importance

That needs to go!

 

[Stewie]

Even the World Cup matches end up being boring if not for the overall privilege of the trophy, i feel.
But this was more for your normal cricket season, not a once in four years event. How many people even watch 50 over cricket with boring scripted passages of play. It has become very robotic.

 

[ChTab]

Not many 50 over games recently and I have to say I didn’t even miss them at all. Tests and T20s provide me more than my fix of cricket. But really Test cricket is where it’s at... just absorbing stuff. I know they keep talking about test cricket dying and the jury might still be out in that one..

BUT!!! I think 50 over sticker has already died!

Am I the only one who feels that way?

50 overs cricket isn't dead & will never be the biggest tournament in cricket will always be 50 overs WC, and now with the advent of ODI League, 50 overs cricket will once again be competitive as interesting to watch.

IMO T20 cricket should only be limited to T20 WC & T20 leagues, these bilateral T20 series are useless.

 

[Stewie]

No thanks

T20i has no value and importance

That needs to go!

Not gonna happen. That’s the money maker!

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yeah I dont see the point of 50 overs...

The magic of 90s odis just ain't there.

Even 2000s odis were pretty fun.

Post 2010, odis have been elongated t20s barring few games.

An elaborate stat boosting exercise with very few thrills.

You just know who is going to win lol.

Crazy thing is I dont even feel like switching on the TV/stream for odis these days.

Except for WC, i dont see any use for it (tho the boards would feel differently).

I wouldnt mind if this format permanently died.

 

[ChTab]

Even the World Cup matches end up being boring if not for the overall privilege of the trophy, i feel.
But this was more for your normal cricket season, not a once in four years event. How many people even watch 50 over cricket with boring scripted passages of play. It has become very robotic.

The format of WC 2019 is the way to go forward as far as 50 over WC is concerned.

 

[AAli98]

Either make it 40 overs or 60 overs 50 overs messes up team selection.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

When teams are constantly scoring 300, it does become a bore fest
I'd rather watch teams struggle to get to 200 because of superior bowling

 

[Stewie]

Either make it 40 overs or 60 overs 50 overs messes up team selection.

Actually very interesting thought.. I was going the other way.. maybe a compromise and start 30 over cricket and do away with T20 and 50 overs ..
Also no restrictions in 30 over games with power plays and two balls. Use one ball and let bowlers regain some advantage.

Wishful thinking, I know!

 

[Stewie]

When teams are constantly scoring 300, it does become a bore fest
I'd rather watch teams struggle to get to 200 because of superior bowling

Bingo, my friend!

 

[Stewie]

Yeah I dont see the point of 50 overs...

The magic of 90s odis just ain't there.

Even 2000s odis were pretty fun.

Post 2010, odis have been elongated t20s barring few games.

An elaborate stat boosting exercise with very few thrills.

You just know who is going to win lol.

Crazy thing is I dont even feel like switching on the TV/stream for odis these days.

Except for WC, i dont see any use for it (tho the boards would feel differently).

I wouldnt mind if this format permanently died.

My sentiment, exactly!

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Not many 50 over games recently and I have to say I didn’t even miss them at all. Tests and T20s provide me more than my fix of cricket. But really Test cricket is where it’s at... just absorbing stuff. I know they keep talking about test cricket dying and the jury might still be out in that one..

BUT!!! I think 50 over sticker has already died!

Am I the only one who feels that way?

ODIs draw bigger crowds than Tests everywhere, except maybe England and Australia.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Miss the 90s ODIs and early 2000s that's about it , Its too batting friendly now days and no point having them when you have a better format for such thrills (T20)

 

[Mamoon]

Why are some cricket fans obsessed with killing formats? One day they will arrange the funeral of Test cricket, the other day they will talk about restricting T20s to leagues only, some day they will talk about ending ODI cricket.

There is place for all three formats at the international levels. It adds variety to the game and also distinguishes the format specialists from the truly elite players.

The truly elite and great players are the ones who excel in all three formats instead of only doing well in Test cricket or Limited Overs cricket.

ODI cricket between two top sides will always be better than Test cricket between two mediocre sides.


Moreover, the ODI World Cup is massive and every player dreams of winning it.

 

[Ozeirk]

They need to get rid of two balls rule in ODI. That is the single reason ODI has become as bad as it is. The only place you get to see reverse swing and a balance between bat and ball in test cricket.

 

[Third Man]

How about a single limited overs format of lets say, 35 overs? It's a good balance between t20 and one-dayers, and will have something for both the hardcore as well as the casual fans. T20s can still be played in the leagues, but international cricket can go back to a clean two-format calendar.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I'm no fan of 50-over cricket myself and even find World Cups mind-numbingly full of tedious dross. I'd prefer for the format to die, but it's a huge money spinner for the ICC so won't expect it to be sidelined any time soon.

 

[Pakhs]

Why? Not long ago we saw the greatest ever match in WC Final?

 

[mastimasti]

Maybe 50 over cricket does not need to be played in every series but I actually miss it. The last world cup was one of the very best, hot off the heels of two exceptional champions trophy tournaments.

 

[Mamoon]

Yeah I dont see the point of 50 overs...

The magic of 90s odis just ain't there.

Even 2000s odis were pretty fun.

Post 2010, odis have been elongated t20s barring few games.

An elaborate stat boosting exercise with very few thrills.

You just know who is going to win lol.

Crazy thing is I dont even feel like switching on the TV/stream for odis these days.

Except for WC, i dont see any use for it (tho the boards would feel differently).

I wouldnt mind if this format permanently died.

The 2019 World Cup was one of the greatest World Cups ever. Far better than the 2000s World Cups.

2011 World Cup was also fantastic, but the 2015 was really poor.

There was no magic in the 90’s. It is only the nostalgia because fans miss the players they grew up with.

Kids growing up today will miss the magic of the 2010s ODI cricket 20-30 years later because they will miss the likes of Kohli, Rohit, Root, Smith, Bumrah, Starc, Buttler etc.

The ODI game has evolved and so should the fans. Those who say it doesn’t expose technically weak batsmen anymore, well neither did the 90s.

A technically weak batsmen like Bevan thrived in ODI cricket in the 90’s even though he couldn’t play the short ball to save his life and flopped badly in Test cricket.

And a nudger like Bevan would be an ordinary ODI batsman today. He benefited from playing in a period where nudgers had a lot of success in ODI cricket because a SR of 70-75 was considered very good.

Younis Khan was a good ODI player in the 2000s but was badly exposed in the 2010s. The likes of Azhar and Pujara would have been great ODI players in the 90s and 2000s. There are many other examples.

It is myth that standards have dropped and batting in ODIs is easier today.

 

[Stewie]

I have been watching cricket with feverish devotion for over 30 years. I have to tell you the sort of passion the world cups until 2003 ... maybe 2007 generated, i don’t feel it anymore. even in 2011 when Pakistan was doing well.

I would stay up late or get up early but not anymore. World Cup and 50 over games are very very scripted. It’s become a batsman’s game with no balance.

Either come up with one LOI format (30-40 overs) so we don’t have other options to fall back on ...
Or do away with the restrictions and use one ball so it become a more balanced contest between bat and ball.

Just look at test cricket. If the teams are matched, the conditions are good, they produce such absorbing contests. The last WC final was an exception. Most 50 over games.. even WC games are so boring, I don’t recall watching a full match since 2003.

 

[James]

When teams are constantly scoring 300, it does become a bore fest
I'd rather watch teams struggle to get to 200 because of superior bowling

Really miss these sorts of ODIs!
Reminds me of the 1999 World Cup in the UK — some of my earliest cricket watching memories — so many thrillers where the chasing team was set around 200-220 to win. Every run counted and the tension was close to unbearable at times.

 

[Mamoon]

I have been watching cricket with feverish devotion for over 30 years. I have to tell you the sort of passion the world cups until 2003 ... maybe 2007 generated, i don’t feel it anymore. even in 2011 when Pakistan was doing well.

I would stay up late or get up early but not anymore. World Cup and 50 over games are very very scripted. It’s become a batsman’s game with no balance.

Either come up with one LOI format (30-40 overs) so we don’t have other options to fall back on ...
Or do away with the restrictions and use one ball so it become a more balanced contest between bat and ball.

Just look at test cricket. If the teams are matched, the conditions are good, they produce such absorbing contests. The last WC final was an exception. Most 50 over games.. even WC games are so boring, I don’t recall watching a full match since 2003.

It is because you got older and your passion is not same anymore.

A lot of people especially young kids are still very excited for World Cup matches. I wasn’t a kid in 2015 but I woke up at 3 am to watch Pakistan get reduced to 1 for 4 against West Indies in the World Cup when I had to an exam at 9 am.

If we talk about passion in general, then it is Test cricket that has suffered the most. The level of interest in the format has certainly dropped among the casual fans.

 

[sweep_shot]

Get rid of T20. Keep ODI.

I still love ODI.

 

[Stewie]

It is because you got older and your passion is not same anymore.

A lot of people especially young kids are still very excited for World Cup matches. I wasn’t a kid in 2015 but I woke up at 3 am to watch Pakistan get reduced to 1 for 4 against West Indies in the World Cup when I had to an exam at 9 am.

If we talk about passion in general, then it is Test cricket that has suffered the most. The level of interest in the format has certainly dropped among the casual fans.

Not true. I still actively play and watch test cricket with a passion. I stay up late and get up early to watch Pakistan tests and the Ashes. So it’s not a question of age or passion, it’s a preference. Maybe I enjoy and appreciate the balance between bat and ball and don’t mean to sound pompous.. but understand the game a bit more to know which way the ODIs are gonna go. These days you can safely predict a result of a 50 over games with a very low margin of error. Some people don’t fully understand the true capability of teams or just love to see bowlers getting hacked to death in extremely bat friendly ODI conditions.

 

[gazza619]

I agree. Instead of a 5 ODI series, i rather see a test match.

 

[Stewie]

Really miss these sorts of ODIs!
Reminds me of the 1999 World Cup in the UK — some of my earliest cricket watching memories — so many thrillers where the chasing team was set around 200-220 to win. Every run counted and the tension was close to unbearable at times.

The 99 World Cup was the best World Cup ever.. it had some of the top players at the peak of their game and produced amazing amazing contests..

I don’t think any World Cup will ever come close to the sensational summer of 99.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Really miss these sorts of ODIs!
Reminds me of the 1999 World Cup in the UK — some of my earliest cricket watching memories — so many thrillers where the chasing team was set around 200-220 to win. Every run counted and the tension was close to unbearable at times.

I was thinking more of 96 where Sri Lanka managed to defend quite low totals
99 had quite high scoring semi finals and really good explosive players like lance klusener
Australian batting was also quite formidable with the likes of waugh, martyn and hayden

 

[Stewie]

96 was good too when SRL turned the whole odi batting on its head... but in terms of wonerdful overall batting/bowling performances, 99 is it for me.

 

[Mamoon]

Not true. I still actively play and watch test cricket with a passion. I stay up late and get up early to watch Pakistan tests and the Ashes. So it’s not a question of age or passion, it’s a preference. Maybe I enjoy and appreciate the balance between bat and ball and don’t mean to sound pompous.. but understand the game a bit more to know which way the ODIs are gonna go. These days you can safely predict a result of a 50 over games with a very low margin of error. Some people don’t fully understand the true capability of teams or just love to see bowlers getting hacked to death in extremely bat friendly ODI conditions.

My point is that your passion for ODI cricket has dwindled. That doesn’t mean it is the same for everyone else.

It is a format that still draws more eyeballs than Test cricket. Most people are not cricket nerds and are not interested in a match that lasts for 5 days.

Cricket cannot survive on purists. They don’t bring money. The casual, regular fans do and they still love ODIs, though they love T20Is the most.

 

[Mamoon]

This thread is funny.

You have a bunch of cricket nerds coming together and trying to dictate how the game should be run at the international level when they don’t even make up 1% of the cricket viewing population in the world.

International sports survives on viewership. That is what brings the money in, and ODI cricket brings in a lot of money.

In fact, the only reason Test cricket is surviving today is because it is being funded by the money ODIs and T20Is are generating.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

96 was good too when SRL turned the whole odi batting on its head... but in terms of wonerdful overall batting/bowling performances, 99 is it for me.

Absolutely, Donald, akhtar and Lee were at their peak and moin khan, klusener, ganguly etc were upto the challenge
The only downfall was the ending and the pitfall which came with it

 

[Stewie]

My point is that your passion for ODI cricket has dwindled. That doesn’t mean it is the same for everyone else.

It is a format that still draws more eyeballs than Test cricket. Most people are not cricket nerds and are not interested in a match that lasts for 5 days.

Cricket cannot survive on purists. They don’t bring money. The casual, regular fans do and they still love ODIs, though they love T20Is the most.

Well of course it has dwindled but your logic about age or losing interest is flawed because that will affect my interest in other formats. In fact I know for sure I am not the only one and I have friends in my age group who actively play league cricket in the US and stay up to watch tests but the same way have lost interest in ODIs.
So there has to be a reason for it right? And I have explained what it is. So it’s not a single one off case with me, it’s a well justified “gripe” about ODIs.

Unfortunately most couch fans who don’t appreciate the more technical nuance of the game and love 300-400 run ODIs are the ones who are keeping this sad trend alive. But there are quite a few of us who feel otherwise

 

[Stewie]

This thread is funny.

You have a bunch of cricket nerds coming together and trying to dictate how the game should be run at the international level when they don’t even make up 1% of the cricket viewing population in the world.

International sports survives on viewership. That is what brings the money in, and ODI cricket brings in a lot of money.

In fact, the only reason Test cricket is surviving today is because it is being funded by the money ODIs and T20Is are generating.

Very condescending, man. That sort of behavior doesn’t get you very far in the real world so for your sake I hope you behave like this only here. Just a word of advice from an old timer..

 

[Hitman]

No way. I love ODI cricket. Not as much as Test cricket, but I still do. If any format needs to put to the dustbin, it's T20 cricket.

 

[Stewie]

The money maker format is T20. Everything t 20 is where the cash is. It’s a myth 50 over cricket is producing money for the boards and ICC. There aren’t many 50 over games internationally. The franchise cricket is what is producing the money and that’s all 20over cricket. That leaves the World Cup only. But if you stick with T20 or a 30-35 over format, you can still achieve the same financial goals but more efficiently than 50 over cricket. Just sayin!

 

[Pakhs]

No way. I love ODI cricket. Not as much as Test cricket, but I still do. If any format needs to put to the dustbin, it's T20 cricket.

50 over cricket is the longest format that is watchable for most cricket fans.. Test matches are too long and not possible to watch every day for any cricket fan who has any sort of life. Test cricket is mostly a format for players themselves and for fans to keep on top of via highlights etc

 

[AAli98]

50 overs is a tired old format which was about to get binned had Ind not won the 2011 World Cup.. as I said make it either 40 overs or 60 overs.

If not ICC should make a T5 over World Cup just to please Afridi & make a comeback.

 

[Mamoon]

Very condescending, man. That sort of behavior doesn’t get you very far in the real world so for your sake I hope you behave like this only here. Just a word of advice from an old timer..

I an afraid you are the one showing condescending behavior. You want a format to shut down because you don’t like it anymore, even though the vast majority of cricket fans do, which is why it still generates more money than Test cricket.

Yes it generates less than T20s which is the real cash cow, but it generates a lot more than Test cricket because of greater viewership.

This whole thread has been about you, not about what the majority wants. It reeks of self-importance and here you are, giving advice on condescending attitude. The irony seems to be lost on you.

Take a look at your opening post. “I don’t miss ODI cricket at all”. Yeah so what? Should ICC shut the format down because you don’t miss it, even though it makes more money than Test cricket?

Your argument is not reasonable at all, and in fact it is condescending and demeaning towards the millions of cricket fans who watch ODI cricket and love the format.

 

[Stewie]

I an afraid you are the one showing condescending behavior. You want a format to shut down because you don’t like it anymore, even though the vast majority of cricket fans do, which is why it still generates more money than Test cricket.

Yes it generates less than T20s which is the real cash cow, but it generates a lot more than Test cricket because of greater viewership.

This whole thread has been about you, not about what the majority wants. It reeks of self-importance and here you are, giving advice on condescending attitude. The irony seems to be lost on you.

Take a look at your opening post. “I don’t miss ODI cricket at all”. Yeah so what? Should ICC shut the format down because you don’t miss it, even though it makes more money than Test cricket?

Your argument is not reasonable at all, and in fact it is condescending and demeaning towards the millions of cricket fans who watch ODI cricket and love the format.

It’s a matter of opinion which we “debate”
In civilized world. That’s the whole point of coming here. To see there are like minded individuals (which as you can tell there are who agree with me) as there will be who don’t such as yourself a you give your POV and I do mine, be civil. Not a condescending “got a stick up my yoo hoo” type of person is my point.. no offense! Not sure if I’m getting through to you.

By the way, I am not Pooh Pooh ing those who like the format. I already admitted there are people who enjoy that sort of play.. not me. Besides, idher post karney mein na paisey lagtey hein, or na kuch kissi ke kehney se duniya hil jaati hai.

As if ICC really bothers about my opinion here. Haha. That was very immature of you, bud. Do better next time!

 

[coy0607]

ODI cricket is easily my favorite form of cricket. Its a great combination of real skill and entertainment.

But I think you're right, the 50 over game is likely going to continue to diminish. More and more tours will be planned around Tests + T20, without ODI. Although I think the 50-over world cup will continue to flourish for the time being

 

[Titan24]

I personally enjoy all 3 formats and they all provide variety and different flavours to cricket. Cricket if not only is one of the very few sports where different formats co exist and same teams play all of them and I think it is important for cricket to have it like this as it provides much needed contrast and variety. There is also world cup super league now (If it remains intact) where every team will play 12 matches at home and 12 away.

There haven’t been as many ODIs recently because two consecutive T20 WCs are due so T20Is are being preferred. I dont agree with this strategy to be honest and should have been only applied until few months to world T20.

I think cricket needs all the 3 formats as unlike any other sport there is no one format which can show all the dimensions the game has to offer. While T20 has been a considerably recent addition but, it has added another dimensional to the game which is good for it.

 

[Smudger]

A very strange thread tbh. If you dont like a format then dont watch it. Simple. A lot of people(including me) still love ODI cricket. As long as sizable amount of people enjoy it,it will stay. Just because you dont like a format does'nt mean it should be scrapped.I personally hate Baseball. But thats just me. If someone else watches it, I wil not bother.

 

[Varun]

I don't even remember the India - Australia ODI series we played before the tests.

 

[Stewie]

I don't even remember the India - Australia ODI series we played before the tests.

Haha.. was there even one? That’s something isn’t it?

 

[Suleiman]

Nope. ODIs > t20Is any day of the week. Your achievements in ODIs far outweigh whatever you achieve in t20 internationals. Premier leagues are the only thing that keep t20s relevant and they are just for the moolah and time pass anyway. There’s no team rivalries or anything in that.

Winning a OD World Cup is still a big deal.

 

[ElRaja]

Not many 50 over games recently and I have to say I didn’t even miss them at all. Tests and T20s provide me more than my fix of cricket. But really Test cricket is where it’s at... just absorbing stuff. I know they keep talking about test cricket dying and the jury might still be out in that one..

BUT!!! I think 50 over sticker has already died!

Am I the only one who feels that way?

totally agree, look at domestic level, the interest in QaE trophy and the interest in PLS, T20 comps versus pakistan cup. 50 over cricket is only alive because its a money spinner for international boards.

if getting rid of 50 over cricket meant preserving the best players for test cricket id happily say goodbye to the format, hell even if that wasnt the case, 10 to 12 tests a year keeps my cricket appetite sated. i dont need t20 leagues or odis, but if it comes down to player earning, i rather they earnted good money in t20s and gave there all in tests for the love of the game without worrying about having to play 20 to 30 odd limited overs games a year.

the 50 over world cup is a nice tournament, and has good cricket, but in general the 50 over format is pointless. any bialteral u watch the first 10 and last 10 overs, the middle 30 is usually formulaic and very boring.

finally the number of times the 50 over format had tweaks to the playing conditions shows how little importance it has.

 

[RamLakhan]

ODI format can be made more interesting by converting it into two T20s (Mixing T20 & Test format) of 40+40 overs. Both teams can have two innings like in Tests! Same ball can be retained for 10 overs in the 2nd innings too. And a new ball can be offered to the batting team (in contrast to bowling team as in Tests) at the 11th over of 2nd innings (31st over precisely). OR to make it even more balanced, choice of new ball can be offered to the team who scored more in their first innings! 10 overs of powerplay in the first innings only, and no powerplay in the second innings (spinners can come into play in this period). And more importantly its only "10 wickets" for both the innings. i.e., if a Team A ends at 140/5 (20 overs) and Team B ends at 130/1 (20 overs), then they can continue from that score in their second innings with only whatever wickets left for them! This can spice it up so nicely!

This can bring back the interest into ODIs (bringing back the old charm & combining it with modern trend). Balance between bat & ball will improve. Toss (which is the main culprit in ODIs and also in Tests) will not be so decisive! Also teams will be so focused at utilizing the resources (wickets in hand, bowlers, spinners, ball-change, etc). Also this will throw away the concept of 5th bowler (part-time bowler), as we have removed those 10 overs!

In fact this way it can become more popular than T20s (and perhaps even put an end to T20 itself??? T20 can be reduced a game played at only franchisee level where they have to accommodate lot of matches & teams!)

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Good ODI cricket is a special experience

 

[Stewie]

ODI format can be made more interesting by converting it into two T20s (Mixing T20 & Test format) of 40+40 overs. Both teams can have two innings like in Tests! Same ball can be retained for 10 overs in the 2nd innings too. And a new ball can be offered to the batting team (in contrast to bowling team as in Tests) at the 11th over of 2nd innings (31st over precisely). OR to make it even more balanced, choice of new ball can be offered to the team who scored more in their first innings! 10 overs of powerplay in the first innings only, and no powerplay in the second innings (spinners can come into play in this period). And more importantly its only "10 wickets" for both the innings. i.e., if a Team A ends at 140/5 (20 overs) and Team B ends at 130/1 (20 overs), then they can continue from that score in their second innings with only whatever wickets left for them! This can spice it up so nicely!

This can bring back the interest into ODIs (bringing back the old charm & combining it with modern trend). Balance between bat & ball will improve. Toss (which is the main culprit in ODIs and also in Tests) will not be so decisive! Also teams will be so focused at utilizing the resources (wickets in hand, bowlers, spinners, ball-change, etc). Also this will throw away the concept of 5th bowler (part-time bowler), as we have removed those 10 overs!

In fact this way it can become more popular than T20s (and perhaps even put an end to T20 itself??? T20 can be reduced a game played at only franchisee level where they have to accommodate lot of matches & teams!)

Exciting!

There are so many ways the ODIs can be made more interesting like this. I know tendulkar once also recommending splitting ODI innings like that but it didn’t gain much traction then (that was years ago)

Seems like ICC are happy with big hits and high scoring matches because that’s what draws the crowd in. The purists are smaller in numbers now.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

The 2019 World Cup was one of the greatest World Cups ever. Far better than the 2000s World Cups.

2011 World Cup was also fantastic, but the 2015 was really poor.

There was no magic in the 90’s. It is only the nostalgia because fans miss the players they grew up with.

Kids growing up today will miss the magic of the 2010s ODI cricket 20-30 years later because they will miss the likes of Kohli, Rohit, Root, Smith, Bumrah, Starc, Buttler etc.

The ODI game has evolved and so should the fans. Those who say it doesn’t expose technically weak batsmen anymore, well neither did the 90s.

A technically weak batsmen like Bevan thrived in ODI cricket in the 90’s even though he couldn’t play the short ball to save his life and flopped badly in Test cricket.

And a nudger like Bevan would be an ordinary ODI batsman today. He benefited from playing in a period where nudgers had a lot of success in ODI cricket because a SR of 70-75 was considered very good.

Younis Khan was a good ODI player in the 2000s but was badly exposed in the 2010s. The likes of Azhar and Pujara would have been great ODI players in the 90s and 2000s. There are many other examples.

It is myth that standards have dropped and batting in ODIs is easier today.

Don't equate the mediocre players of 90s....with the era itself.

The era was great.

Some of the players weren't.

SA, Aus, Pak & WI had a great pace attack.
SL had a great spin attack.
NZ were always the dark horses.
England was weak. India was weak (but had batting stars).

I would literally watch an Aus vs SA game ball by ball in 90s and early 2000s.

Today I don't switch on TV for an Indian game. lol.

Sure nostalgia plays a role but why don't I feel the same way about tests then? I watch tests ball to ball even now.

As for modern ODI, 2019 WC was great.

But what about all the regular games.

The modern ODI rewards hacks who score fast. Just looks pretty on the outside but pretty bland after a while.

Nudgers like Bevan would get to play on easy tracks and score well. Not every 90s player would do well now but some defo would.

The modern ODI is without a soul. Boring as hell.

Heck, most teams don't even field their main Xi in most bilaterals.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I don't even remember the India - Australia ODI series we played before the tests.

Didn't even tune in for one ball.

 

[JaDed]

In one shot that would destroy BD cricket.. thats their best format.
Also its a revenue generator unlike Tests that only we at forums and older generations watch..

We should just take of two new ball rules.

 

[RamLakhan]

Exciting!

There are so many ways the ODIs can be made more interesting like this. I know tendulkar once also recommending splitting ODI innings like that but it didn’t gain much traction then (that was years ago)

Seems like ICC are happy with big hits and high scoring matches because that’s what draws the crowd in. The purists are smaller in numbers now.

Purists are always small in number in any field/sector! Just like fast foods are more popular/selling compared to an healthy & actually tasty traditional dish! Always its the money-minded goons who are at the administrative level and they are as lazy/insipid as the mass public! Another example I can give is "movies" (especially Indian movies if you know!) The mass formulaic hero-based movies will sell easily compared to a good movie which has interesting story/script!

Hence even Tendulkar couldn't do much about it! Actually he suggested that idea even while he had some more years left in his career! He cared for the game & guessed early that the game/format was losing its charm! (even though it would have affected his individual record! And he is someone who was so much accused for obsession about his personal records/milestones ironically!)

 

[Ab Fan]

ODIs are fine.

International T20s need to go. People are finding ODIs boring because of T20 cricket. More so with WT20 happening every year or two. It's cringeworthy.

I would suggest

1. Tests
2. ODIs
3. T20 leagues

There is no need of WT20 or international T20s. Only play T20 leagues. There is a decent period allocated to T20 leagues like IPL, PSL, BBl anyways. Only that should continue, abandon T20s in internationals.

ODIs though must not go away. It is still a good quality format. The problem is these days, ODIs are mixed with T20s and hence it looks boring. You play a whole ODI format like WC 2019 and it is so much entertaining.

There is no point of throwing three random ODIs with three T20s.

 

[Rayyman]

No.

ODIs are my favorite format.

Test cricket is cricket in its purest form, but the main problem is the length of time which does not allow a normal adult to follow a whole match end to end.

That is why ODI cricket is so good, because it takes Test cricket and puts it into one day.

T20 cricket just does not have the watch-ability of ODI. It is too short and you do not get the full cricket experience. Very predictable and the only best parts are the opening power-play and death overs.

In ODIs, the first 15 and last 15 overs are very exciting. But from a cricket fan' POV, the middle overs are where you see all of the tactics from the fielding side and how the batting team deals with them. Which is what Test cricket is about. Middle overs in T20s do not have strategy or planning. Fielding sides just stop runs and batting teams just wait until last overs to hit so they rotate strike. But in ODI cricket, middle overs consist of fielding teams attacking to get wickets and restrict scoring rate and batting teams have to know how to maintain the RR while preserving wickets. In T20 there is no attacking cricket from bowling sides and no defensive cricket from batting sides and that is why it is not real cricket.

T20 is fun to watch, but it will never be better than the longer formats because the nature of cricket is that it needs time for the game to be seen.

ODI cricket is a great, unpredictable contest of cricket that a person can watch on an off-day from work.

 

[Stewie]

1. Only one white ball per innings..
2. Limited field restrictions. Only 10-12
Overs of power play
3. Allow 3 bouncers per over.
4. No free hit for no balls
5. Increase minimal boundary size
6. Extend the bowling quota to 12 or 13 overs for 2 bowlers per team.

All suggestions to bring some advantage back for the bowlers. Then again I speak as a quick bowler here and the batsmen here will probably disagree with me strongly.. hahaha.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

ODIs are fine.

International T20s need to go. People are finding ODIs boring because of T20 cricket. More so with WT20 happening every year or two. It's cringeworthy.

I would suggest

1. Tests
2. ODIs
3. T20 leagues

There is no need of WT20 or international T20s. Only play T20 leagues. There is a decent period allocated to T20 leagues like IPL, PSL, BBl anyways. Only that should continue, abandon T20s in internationals.

ODIs though must not go away. It is still a good quality format. The problem is these days, ODIs are mixed with T20s and hence it looks boring. You play a whole ODI format like WC 2019 and it is so much entertaining.

There is no point of throwing three random ODIs with three T20s.

Very interesting take.

The 2 new balls and 4 fielder rule should go.

Make ODIs non-hack friendly.

WC 2019 was really good.

 

[RamLakhan]

In one shot that would destroy BD cricket.. thats their best format.
Also its a revenue generator unlike Tests that only we at forums and older generations watch..

We should just take of two new ball rules.

After white ball & day-night games came into picture, ball gave lots of problem and they had to change it frequently after 30th over! Teams used to complain about the ball-changes (which gave advantage to the batting team). If you want same ball throughout, then you will have to go back to day games & red ball...

 

[Stewie]

No.

ODIs are my favorite format.

Test cricket is cricket in its purest form, but the main problem is the length of time which does not allow a normal adult to follow a whole match end to end.

That is why ODI cricket is so good, because it takes Test cricket and puts it into one day.

T20 cricket just does not have the watch-ability of ODI. It is too short and you do not get the full cricket experience. Very predictable and the only best parts are the opening power-play and death overs.

In ODIs, the first 15 and last 15 overs are very exciting. But from a cricket fan' POV, the middle overs are where you see all of the tactics from the fielding side and how the batting team deals with them. Which is what Test cricket is about. Middle overs in T20s do not have strategy or planning. Fielding sides just stop runs and batting teams just wait until last overs to hit so they rotate strike. But in ODI cricket, middle overs consist of fielding teams attacking to get wickets and restrict scoring rate and batting teams have to know how to maintain the RR while preserving wickets. In T20 there is no attacking cricket from bowling sides and no defensive cricket from batting sides and that is why it is not real cricket.

T20 is fun to watch, but it will never be better than the longer formats because the nature of cricket is that it needs time for the game to be seen.

ODI cricket is a great, unpredictable contest of cricket that a person can watch on an off-day from work.

ODIs are anything but unpredictable now, just my opinion. They are very formulaic! It’s like watching the old Voltron episode. You know the evil guys are going to send a new robo beast. The five lions will try to fight if.. but they will struggle. So they will form the voltron and voltron will kill the robo beast with its blazing sword. The kids of the eighties will know exactly what I am talking about here.

That’s how ODI cricket is now! Very little deviation from the script.

 

[Rayyman]

ODIs are anything but unpredictable now, just my opinion. They are very formulaic! It’s like watching the old Voltron episode. You know the evil guys are going to send a new robo beast. The five lions will try to fight if.. but they will struggle. So they will form the voltron and voltron will kill the robo beast with its blazing sword. The kids of the eighties will know exactly what I am talking about here.

That’s how ODI cricket is now! Very little deviation from the script.

Did you watch the World Cup?

 

[Stewie]

After white ball & day-night games came into picture, ball gave lots of problem and they had to change it frequently after 30th over! Teams used to complain about the ball-changes (which gave advantage to the batting team). If you want same ball throughout, then you will have to go back to day games & red ball...

For a while they started changing to a used white ball after 35 overs in order to help with the visibility and that helped. Something like that won’t be bad either. Or you can just use a brand new ball after 30 overs but without field restrictions so the captain can spread the field and go on the defensive or bring in the slips to pry a few wickets with the new ball.

Like I said there are so many many ways you can bring innovation and make the ODIs more interesting and if you do that I’m all for them.

 

[Stewie]

Did you watch the World Cup?

The last World Cup was n exception because of where it was being played. England is a big exception here and still quite a few of the games still followed the script.

So 1. Only in England
2. World Cup comes every four years.

That’s not a good sign for the overall health of the game. You want to make it more exciting so more people watch them as intently as they used to.
Due to the combination of over saturation with T20 and formulaic pattern of ODI games you have to admit the interest in 50over cricket is on a decline.

 

[JaDed]

After white ball & day-night games came into picture, ball gave lots of problem and they had to change it frequently after 30th over! Teams used to complain about the ball-changes (which gave advantage to the batting team). If you want same ball throughout, then you will have to go back to day games & red ball...

Thanks.. but if till 2011 wc it was ok not sure why it became an issue after so many years.. red balls wasnt used in ODI for a long time.

 

[Rayyman]

For a while they started changing to a used white ball after 35 overs in order to help with the visibility and that helped. Something like that won’t be bad either. Or you can just use a brand new ball after 30 overs but without field restrictions so the captain can spread the field and go on the defensive or bring in the slips to pry a few wickets with the new ball.

Like I said there are so many many ways you can bring innovation and make the ODIs more interesting and if you do that I’m all for them.

Pretty sure you do not watch and just look at scorecards.

These are example of a few exciting matches I watched in the last (pandemic-struck) year.

Australia recover from 73-5 to chase 300+ with Maxwell scoring a century at 120 SR

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-3rd-odi-1198240/full-scorecard

Steven Smith smashes an unreal 60 ball hundred vs India

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-vs-india-2nd-odi-1223956/full-scorecard

Blessing Muzarabani bowls out of his mind to win Zimbabwe a match in a Super Over vs Pakistan

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...an-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-odi-1233463/full-scorecard

Only in ODIs.

 

[Justcrazy]

Either make it 40 overs or 60 overs 50 overs messes up team selection.

It will make it worse.

 

[Stewie]

Pretty sure you do not watch and just look at scorecards.

These are example of a few exciting matches I watched in the last (pandemic-struck) year.

Australia recover from 73-5 to chase 300+ with Maxwell scoring a century at 120 SR

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-3rd-odi-1198240/full-scorecard

Steven Smith smashes an unreal 60 ball hundred vs India

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-vs-india-2nd-odi-1223956/full-scorecard

Blessing Muzarabani bowls out of his mind to win Zimbabwe a match in a Super Over vs Pakistan

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...an-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-odi-1233463/full-scorecard

Only in ODIs.

You should also read my previous post on my take on the World Cup in England. Trust me something like this won’t happen every time.. especially when it’s played in the subcontinent (which is most likely to happen in the coming editions)

 

[Ab Fan]

Very interesting take.

The 2 new balls and 4 fielder rule should go.

Make ODIs non-hack friendly.

WC 2019 was really good.

Need to bring back the days when there were tests and ODIs only. Play 5 ODIs and tests only. ODIs with pitches having something for all. The world tournaments should also happen only for these two.

The so called T20 specialists can be watched during the IPL /PSL /BBL season for about 1.5 months in the year. For each, their own. Also, it won't become an overdose to watch T20 leagues during that one month period in the whole year given that only tests and ODIs will be played for rest part of the year.

 

[ahmadharis1]

I feel like I'm in the minority when I say ODIs are my favorite format

 

[BDfanforever]

ODI is the best Cricket format and the nicest to look on TV. Unlike test cricket, you won't see too many tail enders smashing ton easily, or players hitting triple ton with ease. It requires crazy amount of strategy and selection especially during big tournaments.

Cricket would lose millions of viewers if test cricket was made the only formats.

You DONT need to play the game twice i.e. bat twice to make a game elite. Imagine soccer was 180min long!

These days most teams don't play more than 2 tests besides top 3.

 

[Stewie]

I feel like I'm in the minority when I say ODIs are my favorite format

It’s pretty even stevens right now from the looks of it.
Different people have different tastes. I’m not judging. Just want them to be more interesting. Honestly speaking I don’t even watch T20s. But I know how important they are for overall financial health of the sport and players. So they are not going anywhere.

I think ODIs fit somewhere in between for the more standard fan with a a bit of nous of the game, who doesn’t watch test cricket much for whatever reasons but appreciates the art of building an innings or a longer bowling spell.

 

[Rayyman]

It’s pretty even stevens right now from the looks of it.
Different people have different tastes. I’m not judging. Just want them to be more interesting. Honestly speaking I don’t even watch T20s. But I know how important they are for overall financial health of the sport and players. So they are not going anywhere.

I think ODIs fit somewhere in between for the more standard fan with a a bit of nous of the game, who doesn’t watch test cricket much for whatever reasons but appreciates the art of building an innings or a longer bowling spell.

Not every one is an old man who can watch cricket for 5 straight days

 

[Stewie]

Not every one is an old man who can watch cricket for 5 straight days

Not all cricket fans are young school kids either. In fact the older guys who can afford to watch five days straight of a test match should be the target audience for the sponsors and the real money makers for the game because of their spending power which is most likely to be higher than school or college kids.

 

[Runner Up]

Arrange Pakistan India ODI Series. Even OP will regret what the hell he wrote in past.

 

[msb314]

No.

ODIs are my favorite format.

Test cricket is cricket in its purest form, but the main problem is the length of time which does not allow a normal adult to follow a whole match end to end.

That is why ODI cricket is so good, because it takes Test cricket and puts it into one day.

T20 cricket just does not have the watch-ability of ODI. It is too short and you do not get the full cricket experience. Very predictable and the only best parts are the opening power-play and death overs.

In ODIs, the first 15 and last 15 overs are very exciting. But from a cricket fan' POV, the middle overs are where you see all of the tactics from the fielding side and how the batting team deals with them. Which is what Test cricket is about. Middle overs in T20s do not have strategy or planning. Fielding sides just stop runs and batting teams just wait until last overs to hit so they rotate strike. But in ODI cricket, middle overs consist of fielding teams attacking to get wickets and restrict scoring rate and batting teams have to know how to maintain the RR while preserving wickets. In T20 there is no attacking cricket from bowling sides and no defensive cricket from batting sides and that is why it is not real cricket.

T20 is fun to watch, but it will never be better than the longer formats because the nature of cricket is that it needs time for the game to be seen.

ODI cricket is a great, unpredictable contest of cricket that a person can watch on an off-day from work.

Fully agree

 

[msb314]

I feel like I'm in the minority when I say ODIs are my favorite format

It is for me too - perfect balance between “entertainment” and skill / perseverance of the players..

 

[msb314]

Maybe I’m in the minority but still do not understand the obsession of PP’ers regarding the balance between bat and ball..

I want to see big hitting and lots of boundaries with both teams scoring 300-400 runs in their innings. Personally LOI cricket on green or slow dry wickets is boring to me and I’d rather watch a test match in such conditions..

The WC final was great but only because of the occasion. Any such game during a regular bilateral series would have soon been forgotten..

 

[msb314]

What has actually caused me to lose some interest in cricket is the politics and government interference in the sport.

Maybe I was too young to understand or even notice this back in the early 2000’s but I think it had gotten worse.. ICC do not care as long as the Big 3 continue to fill their pockets..

Even after the Kargil war - Pakistan regularly played India in Sharjah tri-series and played the 1999 WC game without a hitch.

Social Media and the “Cancel” culture have ruined sporting ties for me..