ODI cricket has reached its lowest level of popularity today. A match between Australia and England is currently underway in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Generally, fans would expect a packed house for a battle between the arch-rivals. However, most of the seats at the MCG are vacant.
Many fans feel that Tests and T20Is are the only relevant formats of cricket in 2022. ODI cricket is dying a slow death. ICC needs to do something to restore the prestige of this important format of the game. Here are three things which ICC should do.
1. ICC should conduct tri-series and quadrangular series in ODI cricket
The simplest way to restore the popularity of the 50-over format is to have a triangular series or a quadrangular series between three or four teams. More people will be interested to watch a tri-series between India, Australia and Sri Lanka than a bilateral series between any of those two teams.
2. ICC should stop 3-match ODI series
Because of the new ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, whose second edition has already been scrapped, the series of 50-over matches have been limited to three matches only. It is not enough to get a fan invested. Three matches end in a span of a week, and the next week onwards, the two teams are playing another two teams.
Many members of the cricket universe would agree that the 50-over series between Australia and Sri Lanka was the best one in 2022. Why? The answer is it was a five-match series, and both teams got a proper chance to showcase their skills. Similarly, India vs. Australia 2013 has a special place in the hearts of the fans because it was a seven-match series.
3. Reduce number of T20Is on a tour
One of the major reasons behind the decrease in popularity of 50-over games is the increase in number of T20Is. These days, teams are playing five to seven T20Is on tours. Previously, there used to be a one-off T20I or two T20I matches on a tour, and major focus was on Tests and ODIs.
