General Cricket Discussion

[SaiSrini]

South Africa withdraw from January ODI series | cricket.com.au

The three-match one-day series against the Proteas is off, putting their direct World Cup…

www.cricket.com.au

I have no idea why South Africa wants to pull out here. Its very baffling tbh. They are truly going to jeopardize direct qualification hopes for the CWC 2023. Going by the current standings, the Qualifier would be a treat to watch in that case...

It clearly shows what South Africa think about the ODI format of the game. Clearly, the T20 format has truly taken over the cricket landscape, and the nostalgic folks (not me!) dont want test cricket gone.. So I am pretty sure that will leave ODI's on the chopping block. Wont be surprised if the ODI World Cup next year is the last one for the format.

 

[icyman]

It clearly shows what South Africa think about the ODI format of the game. Clearly, the T20 format has truly taken over the cricket landscape, and the nostalgic folks (not me!) dont want test cricket gone.. So I am pretty sure that will leave ODI's on the chopping block. Wont be surprised if the ODI World Cup next year is the last one for the format.

Nah mate!

ODIs will survive for sure. I get your sentiments w.r.t the Test format, but feel that they might be the ones to go on the chopping board.

The WTC has been an abject failure given that the success of some nations hasn't really generated adequate interest in the said format. The marquee events like Ashes, Ind V Aus would still be around. However, I find it tough to see this format surviving the test of time.

ODI will survive given that the matches get done in a day. What the ICC needs to do is to bring back the old World Cups, the old Qualifiers and the ICC Knockout to generate interest in the limited overs arena

 

[GuyIncognito]

Nah mate!

ODIs will survive for sure. I get your sentiments w.r.t the Test format, but feel that they might be the ones to go on the chopping board.

The WTC has been an abject failure given that the success of some nations hasn't really generated adequate interest in the said format. The marquee events like Ashes, Ind V Aus would still be around. However, I find it tough to see this format surviving the test of time.

ODI will survive given that the matches get done in a day. What the ICC needs to do is to bring back the old World Cups, the old Qualifiers and the ICC Knockout to generate interest in the limited overs arena

I personally maintain, my own controversial opinion, 20/20 internationals only for the world cup (and qualifiers for associate teams + wc). Would free up more space to spread out test and odi cricket. Plus I think it would maintain the intensity and interest in 20/20 international cricket.

 

[Bevab]

The reaction to this has been terribly overblown IMO. This was always on the cards the moment ICC said this would be the only iteration of the Super League and with COVID causing a pileup of fixtures at the last moment due to postponement.

For starters CSA are absolutely broke at the moment through every fault of their own. The country’s economy isn’t good either. An away tour isn’t going to bring in significant money compared to the potential revenue a successful T20 league could. Now this is their third attempt at this which does mean the track record is poor casting doubts over the current iteration but if they manage to get it off the ground they’ll be in a much better spot compared to now. Would rather they try to do something radical to ensure the sport lives on even if it means short-term losses.

All of this is contigent on the league being successful though. For starters, T20 leagues almost never generate profits especially in the first edition. The other main concern for me is the incompetence that is rotting in the CSA Board who I don’t trust to make this a successful endeavour. In addition the league will most likely be competing against the BBL, BPL and potentially the early stages of the PSL in addition to plenty of international tours at that point in time. The availability of real star power will be dubious. Which might also work out for the better in terms of limiting the money spent on overseas stars which usually is the biggest reason for T20 leagues making losses. The one factor that I would count in their favour is that the MSL despite being poorly organized was fairly well received in terms of attendances and interest (although that might have been due to it being on Free TV).

The relations between CSA and CA were already strained due to the cancellation of a test series a year ago by CA and this will no doubt make it worse. One good thing for CA is that their own stars will now be available to play in the BBL for that period of time which might boost the league alongside the increased impetus on bigger overseas names this time.

The fear mongering over South Africa missing out on the ODI World Cup also seems a bit too far fetched. Even if they are to play in the qualifiers they will be the strongest team there by some distance on paper. I do acknowledge the rather roulette nature of the qualifiers and how chaotic it was last time around alongside South Africa’s own patchy form in ODIs (lost to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and drew with Ireland in their last five series) but I still believe their strongest XI will be too much to handle for the other associates if they focus properly (they’ve also clean swept India amidst those disastrous results). They have power hitters, dynamic accumulators, tearaway quicks and potent spinners. The other sides lack at least one of these categories of players (barring perhaps Sri Lanka) and that might just prove to be the difference.

 

[Bevab]

I personally maintain, my own controversial opinion, 20/20 internationals only for the world cup (and qualifiers for associate teams + wc). Would free up more space to spread out test and odi cricket. Plus I think it would maintain the intensity and interest in 20/20 international cricket.

I’ve seen two lines of thoughts regarding the future of international cricket with one being your proposition. The other and more radical one that myself and @WutUpMahGlipGlops believe in is scrapping ODIs altogether with more importance laid on T20 leagues, a few more T20Is to generate revenue and more test series’ as a result of the extra money. In this era, I simply believe ODIs are too redundant. Domestic tournaments all over the globe have also started treating ODs as the lesser format. The most prominent ones I can think of are Australia and India rushing their List A tournaments before the eye catching domestic tournaments whilst England have altogether turned their tournament into a second XI competition with reserves and red ball specialists due to The Hundred. I’d still leave space for an ODI World Cup as the pinnacle of white ball cricket every 3-4 years and possibly a Champions Trophy lite tournament but other than that most ODIs are better being scrapped off.

 

[GuyIncognito]

I’ve seen two lines of thoughts regarding the future of international cricket with one being your proposition. The other and more radical one that myself and @WutUpMahGlipGlops believe in is scrapping ODIs altogether with more importance laid on T20 leagues, a few more T20Is to generate revenue and more test series’ as a result of the extra money. In this era, I simply believe ODIs are too redundant. Domestic tournaments all over the globe have also started treating ODs as the lesser format. The most prominent ones I can think of are Australia and India rushing their List A tournaments before the eye catching domestic tournaments whilst England have altogether turned their tournament into a second XI competition with reserves and red ball specialists due to The Hundred. I’d still leave space for an ODI World Cup as the pinnacle of white ball cricket every 3-4 years and possibly a Champions Trophy lite tournament but other than that most ODIs are better being scrapped off.

Yeah, absolutely. I would preference, in my opinion, more test cricket as to get rid of the many useless two test series and make it three. I think that's one of the reasons test cricket went on a decline a bit, lose the first match and all you can hope for is a drawn series. Good example would be the recent Australia v Sri Lanka series, would have been an intriguing third test.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I personally maintain, my own controversial opinion, 20/20 internationals only for the world cup (and qualifiers for associate teams + wc). Would free up more space to spread out test and odi cricket. Plus I think it would maintain the intensity and interest in 20/20 international cricket.

Problem is there's really no consequence, I guess South Africa have weighed up the pros and cons and think they'll make the World Cup whether they go to Australia or not. Like @Bevab says there's no real benefit for them to go and no real penalty for teams pulling out.

I remember when England pulled out the Pakistan tour Jarrod Kimber did a video about the general state of international cricket still revolving around archaic bilateral agreements. We'll tour you, if you tour us. If there was a better centralised structure with a split of the money for each series then, if a team pulls out they would forfeit that share.

Hell, the ICC TV app is dogshit, but they have cricket on all the time (they had Sri Lanka v Australia for a small fee recently). If they improved the service, had every international match on there (with the receipts shared to all teams) I'd happily pay a monthly sub. Honestly, some of the county cricket streams are outstanding this year and it's free.

Think it was this video.

 

[SaiSrini]

Nah mate!

ODIs will survive for sure. I get your sentiments w.r.t the Test format, but feel that they might be the ones to go on the chopping board.

The WTC has been an abject failure given that the success of some nations hasn't really generated adequate interest in the said format. The marquee events like Ashes, Ind V Aus would still be around. However, I find it tough to see this format surviving the test of time.

ODI will survive given that the matches get done in a day. What the ICC needs to do is to bring back the old World Cups, the old Qualifiers and the ICC Knockout to generate interest in the limited overs arena

True. The WTC has been a flop IMHO. Honestly I don't care whether India makes it to that final or not. This whole "WTC - ODI Super League" are just desperate methods to maintain relevance towards formats that are being bulldozed by T20. There are quite a few that won't accept this, but - in today's "affordable high speed internet / OTT / deluge of entertainment options" generation, anything more than 3 hrs for a game of sport is OVERKILL!

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

India & Pakistan- cannot host each other and wont play in the other nation

To be fair, India won't host Pakistan and won't come to Pakistan. Pakistan has made it very public that they do want to play India. In India, or elsewhere.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

To be fair, India won't host Pakistan and won't come to Pakistan. Pakistan has made it very public that they do want to play India. In India, or elsewhere.

My conspiracy theory is that the India, Australia and England boards are all quite happy about this too. If Pakistan played India it'd be one fewer, money-spinning, marquee series for England or Australia. It'd also potentially mean Pakistan would have some financial muscle meaning they'd compete in terms of ICC power with England and Australia.

 

[CerealKiller]

My conspiracy theory is that the India, Australia and England boards are all quite happy about this too. If Pakistan played India it'd be one fewer, money-spinning, marquee series for England or Australia. It'd also potentially mean Pakistan would have some financial muscle meaning they'd compete in terms of ICC power with England and Australia.

Yeah, PSL is already the second most valuable T20 league, despite having a late kickoff. Without the country’s massive economic issues, it would be even bigger.

To be fair, India won't host Pakistan and won't come to Pakistan. Pakistan has made it very public that they do want to play India. In India, or elsewhere.

All this makes the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in 2025 very intriguing.

 

[CerealKiller]

 

[icyman]

All this makes the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in 2025 very intriguing.

Yeah, India will play its matches in UAE

If they are serious about not playing, I can imagine India fielding B team post CWC 2023 resulting in automatically dropping out of the Top8 cutoff required for the CT.

 

[icyman]

Not sure of the authenticity of this claim, but it has been doing rounds on Social Media since morning.

I'd be happy to see a 3 match series of this actually takes place. Been some time since we saw a proper World XI in action.




On a side note, maybe they ought to have Pakistan field a team as well. Afterall both nations have will have turned 75...

 

[Satan666]

Not sure of the authenticity of this claim, but it has been doing rounds on Social Media since morning.

I'd be happy to see a 3 match series of this actually takes place. Been some time since we saw a proper World XI in action.

View attachment 268096


On a side note, maybe they ought to have Pakistan field a team as well. Afterall both nations have will have turned 75...

Question is wether Pakistan players be allowed in the Rest of the World team?