varunvgiri
Club Cricketer
I've been following with great interest the recent discussions in the media about the future of ODI cricket and the suggestions being offered by players both past and present on how to tinker with the format to make it more appealing, all the time wondering was there anything wrong with the format in the first place.
This is the same format that we have all been in love with for the past 3 decades, and presented us with so many memorable matches and moments. I don't think 20/20 cricket is capable of providing many memorable moments, and there is hardly any match that springs to my mind other than the Indo-Pak world 20/20 final. Yes, it provides close finishes and lots of action, but it lacks the engaging battles of bat and ball, and struggles to provide moments of greatness. Don't get me wrong, I love watching 20/20 matches, but rather than thinking that this is the ultimate form of cricket, I would rather put it down for newness of the format. To be honest, in my opinion T20 cricket is still in it's honeymoon period. Once the honeymoon is over we will be in a better position to judge whether it is truly the future of cricket.
Coming back to ODI cricket, this is one format that has kept us entertained for over 3 decades now. So many memorable matches, so many memorable innings, and so many memorable spells. You need to play aggressively as well as play sensibly in ODI's which is not up everyone's alley. You probably need a lot more talent as well as temperament to succeed in ODI cricket both as a batsman as bowler.It has provides us with some great matches and great performances. I can still remember how many of the matches in 92/96/99/03 world cups panned out. Inzy's knock in the semifinal, Akrams's brilliance in the final from 92. Not to forget SA's heart break in the semi's. Aravinda's knock in the final and Jayasurya's billiance throughout the tournament from 96. The AUS - WI semi final and IND - PAK quarter final were simply unforgettable. And who can forget the amazing innings by Lara in the quarter against SA, or Shane Warne's spell in the semi. And I cannot leave the 96 world cup without mentioning some of the special knocks played by Tendulkar. Coming to the 99 world cup the two AUS - SA matches were among the classics. Steve Waugh's brilliant hundred, the dropped catch from Gibbs and SA self destructing in the semi final were unforgettable moments. The brilliant knocks from Klusener and Shane Warne's bowling in the semi also come to mind when thinking about the 99 world cup. And 2003 world cup was made special by brilliant knocks by Tendulkar through out the tournament. The IND - PAK match was unforgettable and so was the Tendulkar innings. And you just cannot leave out Ponting's innings in the final.And these are just a few ones that came to my mind immediately. I'm
sure if I sit down and think about it I'll be able to come with a lot more moments and these are just a few great moments from the 4 of the 5 world cups that I have actively followed. I am sure there were equally great moments in the 4 world cups preceding these.
Yes I agree the last world cup was a bad advertisement for ODI cricket with it being too long and with too many minnows for anybody's liking. And we have had an overkill of meaningless ODI cricket in recent times. Who wants to watch 7 match ODI series. Let me put in an analogy. It's always exciting to watch a Man U - Arsenal match .But how many people would be able to maintain their enthusiasm if they were playing 7 match series twice a year. And that certainly wont make football boring. And similarly, if you have lost interest in ODI cricket because of all these meaningless series, then that is hardly the format's problem. Within a few years we will be having the same feeling towards T20 format as well.
Over the last week, the champions trophy has provided a good advertisement for ODI cricket. It has the potential to become the best ODI tournament outide of the world cup. Yesterday's match between SA and ENG got me thinking, and I've just typed out all that came to my mind. Another painful exit for SA from a tournament, the pain and disappointment on Smith's face after working so hard for the 140 and yet seeing his side fall short. All this tells me that the saga of ODI cricket will continue..
This is the same format that we have all been in love with for the past 3 decades, and presented us with so many memorable matches and moments. I don't think 20/20 cricket is capable of providing many memorable moments, and there is hardly any match that springs to my mind other than the Indo-Pak world 20/20 final. Yes, it provides close finishes and lots of action, but it lacks the engaging battles of bat and ball, and struggles to provide moments of greatness. Don't get me wrong, I love watching 20/20 matches, but rather than thinking that this is the ultimate form of cricket, I would rather put it down for newness of the format. To be honest, in my opinion T20 cricket is still in it's honeymoon period. Once the honeymoon is over we will be in a better position to judge whether it is truly the future of cricket.
Coming back to ODI cricket, this is one format that has kept us entertained for over 3 decades now. So many memorable matches, so many memorable innings, and so many memorable spells. You need to play aggressively as well as play sensibly in ODI's which is not up everyone's alley. You probably need a lot more talent as well as temperament to succeed in ODI cricket both as a batsman as bowler.It has provides us with some great matches and great performances. I can still remember how many of the matches in 92/96/99/03 world cups panned out. Inzy's knock in the semifinal, Akrams's brilliance in the final from 92. Not to forget SA's heart break in the semi's. Aravinda's knock in the final and Jayasurya's billiance throughout the tournament from 96. The AUS - WI semi final and IND - PAK quarter final were simply unforgettable. And who can forget the amazing innings by Lara in the quarter against SA, or Shane Warne's spell in the semi. And I cannot leave the 96 world cup without mentioning some of the special knocks played by Tendulkar. Coming to the 99 world cup the two AUS - SA matches were among the classics. Steve Waugh's brilliant hundred, the dropped catch from Gibbs and SA self destructing in the semi final were unforgettable moments. The brilliant knocks from Klusener and Shane Warne's bowling in the semi also come to mind when thinking about the 99 world cup. And 2003 world cup was made special by brilliant knocks by Tendulkar through out the tournament. The IND - PAK match was unforgettable and so was the Tendulkar innings. And you just cannot leave out Ponting's innings in the final.And these are just a few ones that came to my mind immediately. I'm
sure if I sit down and think about it I'll be able to come with a lot more moments and these are just a few great moments from the 4 of the 5 world cups that I have actively followed. I am sure there were equally great moments in the 4 world cups preceding these.
Yes I agree the last world cup was a bad advertisement for ODI cricket with it being too long and with too many minnows for anybody's liking. And we have had an overkill of meaningless ODI cricket in recent times. Who wants to watch 7 match ODI series. Let me put in an analogy. It's always exciting to watch a Man U - Arsenal match .But how many people would be able to maintain their enthusiasm if they were playing 7 match series twice a year. And that certainly wont make football boring. And similarly, if you have lost interest in ODI cricket because of all these meaningless series, then that is hardly the format's problem. Within a few years we will be having the same feeling towards T20 format as well.
Over the last week, the champions trophy has provided a good advertisement for ODI cricket. It has the potential to become the best ODI tournament outide of the world cup. Yesterday's match between SA and ENG got me thinking, and I've just typed out all that came to my mind. Another painful exit for SA from a tournament, the pain and disappointment on Smith's face after working so hard for the 140 and yet seeing his side fall short. All this tells me that the saga of ODI cricket will continue..
