Saving the ODI | Thebigtip

Martin Crowe and Dean Jones, two legends in their respective countries have recently added their considerable weight behind the push to extinguish the One Day International. It is the general assumption that this format with the introduction of T20 is now the scourge of cricket and hinders the game’s progress. Administrators, like they regularly do, are sitting on the fence and waiting to see where the most popular opinions and markets lay before they make a genuine decision; but there is a way that may in fact breathe life and relevance back into the international one day game that does not require tinkering with rules.

At the moment, of the three forms of the game, Test Matches and T20 offer the greatest spectacle and skill. One Day Internationals are awkwardly placed in the middle of both of these formats and lack the innovation in the way T20s are played and marketed and the mental toughness that Test Matches bring. Rather than become apocalyptically negative about the ODI it may be better served to imagine a cricket world without them.

By dismissing this format from the calendar altogether is simply an affront to history. The fact is that one day cricket revolutionized the sport in the way it was played, administered and marketed; it was the sole catalyst for making the game professional. Without its inception players would not be paid the multi-million dollar contracts, none could brag about being world champions, administration coffers would not be lined with gold, there would be no night matches and the number of people that would have attended a game of international cricket would be reduced by at least 80%. In terms of marketing, there would be no “C’mon Aussie, C’mon”, children’s heroes would be reduced, and the game would have relied solely on Test Matches as its showpiece. And a great argument against the naysayers is that without one day cricket the T20 format would never have been imagined. It may be trivial but one thing that is learnt in life is that you dismiss history at your own peril.

Other than the historical factor that cricket is based on, the main reason why the ODI should remain is for the gap it will leave between the two remaining forms. T20 cricket is meant for those who have little attention span; administrators use it as a way to generate interest in the sport from those who do not know much about it. Mothers and kids, that is, families, are catered for extraordinarily well because of it, with every match jazzed up like it is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ himself. The brutish play also attracts the market of 20-something males who have tendencies to enjoy rugby, soccer or football rather than cricket in its purest form. The lack of concentration and cricketing skill is also an attraction to the players. The middle order hitter is now the most important player and short sharp bowling spells mean that it gives lifelines to lesser developed or older players.

Compare all that to the guile, patience and artistry needed to watch and play Test Match cricket, the gap between the two is hugely intense. There will be, in time, a clear divide between the players of T20 and players of Test Matches; there will also be, in time, a clear division between those who watch T20 and those who watch Test Matches. This may develop into competition between the two forms of the same game; neither will be able to benefit from the other. This is where the one day format comes into its own. It is the transition between T20 and Test Matches, an easier way for those of lesser concentration skills to adapt to longer versions of the game. Spectators are able to see run-a-ball centuries rather than quick-fire 30s or all-day 90s; they will be able to witness spells of 5 or 6 overs rather than spells of one or super slow over rates; and more importantly they can still see the athleticism in the field of the players which is an attraction in itself.

For the players it is necessary for them to have all three formats to prove to themselves and others that they can adapt to circumstances; that they have a tank that can bowl a spell of probing line and length; that they can not only bat two hours for 30 runs but adjust down to smash a quick fire 50 and vice versa. The reason why this is critical to the players is that Test Match cricket is still, and forever will be, the pinnacle of the sport. Kids may change their heroes to more caveman-esk players swinging their clubs everywhere but once they start playing cricket at school and club levels they will not be hoping to represent their country at T20, but at Test Matches. The day will never come that a good knock in a T20 will translate into a Test Match spot. ODI are essential for this.

How to fix the ODI? Changing the rules may work, but it has not recently with the introduction of power plays and how splitting the innings will work is beyond most people except administrators. The solution lies in scheduling and promotion of games to maximize relevance. Martin Crowe and others are pushing for a Test Match World Cup. The time frame for such an event is so immense it is impractical – there was severe criticism when the ODI World Cup in the West Indies went for two months, a Test Match version would use up doublen that amount of time. And it is a shame it has that problem as the idea is great as we all want to see who the best nation is.  But there is a way to bring out a similar result by introducing what would be essentially an international version of the Sri Lankan domestic season.

If the ICC world rankings are used (there are curiously no T20 rankings) the top three nations are Australia, India and South Africa. Over a three month period these teams would play a home and away fixture as well as a neutral one in all forms to determine who the best country is. Thus India would host the first leg in October by playing South Africa then Australia in a T20 match. The two visitors would play each other in this format before the process is repeated in the ODI and Test Match versions. The competition then heads to South Africa in early November then onto Australia in December culminating in the Boxing Day Test Match. Points would be awarded for each match depending on its relevance – 1 for T20, 2 for ODI and 5 for a Test Match win, 2 for a draw. The team with the most points receives a large trophy and cheque at the end.