When R Ashwin just lately referred to ODI cricket as “redundant” on one in every of his YouTube streams, it wasn’t merely a throwaway line. For years, the 50-over format was the sport’s center floor: longer than T20s and extra expressive than Exams. It was additionally cricket’s industrial engine all through the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, typically drawing eyeballs and income as Take a look at cricket started to indicate indicators of decline.
However forward of a 12 months which is able to see the T20 World Cup and the IPL performed back-to-back, with T20 cricket dominating the cricket calendar for 4 consecutive months, considerations round how the ODI format could survive in fashionable cricket have resurfaced.
Ashwin has not been alone in elevating these considerations. Whereas talking at an Concept Trade hosted by The Indian Categorical final 12 months, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting stated that batsmanship towards spin had declined because the ODI format declined. “The rhythm and tempo of one-day batting is just not prefer it was due to how a lot T20 cricket is being performed. Within the 50-over sport now, groups try to play it like an extended T20 sport,” had stated. “The stuff that made the most effective 50-over gamers what they have been, perhaps a few of that has gone.”
These greats of the sport have loads of trigger for concern, with lesser ODIs performed and a haphazard approach during which they’re scheduled.
Since January 1, 2021, amongst India, England, and Australia, it’s India who’ve performed essentially the most ODIs, with 82 matches. England and Australia have performed 68 and 64 ODIs, respectively. Exterior the Huge 3, South Africa have featured in 72 matches whereas New Zealand performed even fewer (45).
Against this, T20Is have steadily elevated, typically outnumbering ODIs exterior World Cup years. Since January 1, 2021, India have performed 126 T20Is. England and Australia have performed an equal variety of matches (88). South Africa have performed 73, whereas New Zealand have featured in 61 T20Is.
Completely different international locations have proven totally different scheduling priorities. Groups like India nonetheless leverage ODIs for industrial alternatives, particularly with the 2 batting superstars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, now solely turning up in that format. However others are leaning extra closely on Take a look at cricket and T20Is.
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Scheduling quagmire
Chief amongst Ashwin’s considerations for ODIs is the format’s relevance to the directors, highlighting the breakless staging of multi-team tournaments has led to “an overkill”.
“Yearly, there’s an ICC match for income era,” he stated. “Too many bilaterals, too many codecs, too many World Cups.”
Even when the ODIs are performed, they’re scheduled irregularly, normally solely sought out by international locations earlier than an upcoming World Cup. The quadrennial showpiece remains to be cricket’s largest prize, however groups desire to play ODIs solely as one approaches, ditching the format in different years.
India
Hole: +44 extra T20Is
South Africa
Hole: +1 extra T20I
England
Hole: +20 extra T20Is
Australia
Hole: +24 extra T20Is
New Zealand
Hole: +16 extra T20Is
Indian Categorical InfoGenIE
A better break up of the variety of ODIs performed within the final couple of years presents a transparent sample. 35 out of India’s 82 ODIs within the final 5 years got here in 2023 – a World Cup 12 months. In 2024, that quantity got here down to 3.
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Australia confirmed the identical sample: 22 ODIs in 2023, in comparison with solely 11 in 2024. England and South Africa show even sharper contrasts, with England’s complete in 2024 a mere eight ODIs as in comparison with 24 in 2023. South Africa performed 25 ODIs in 2023, however that quantity got here right down to 9 in 2024. Solely New Zealand performed extra ODIs in 2024 than they did in 2023, with 15 matches as in comparison with 10 video games within the World Cup 12 months.
T20 leagues, which sees the most effective gamers assemble for a interval of one-to-two months, mushrooming globally has taken up an excessive amount of house on the calendar too. IPL matches have elevated exponentially over the past 5 years. The Huge Bash League continues to develop annually. With each IPL proprietor having a stake within the SA T20 league, the competitors is anticipated to witness steady development within the coming years too.
These traits don’t recommend that ODIs will go extinct, however as an alternative that they could lose relevance. And with out deliberate restructuring, they could survive solely as periodic, high-profile occasions quite than as a year-round staple – a format within the shadow of T20’s reputation, related solely when the World Cup calls for it.