There is no denying the fact that T20I cricket is certainly the most popular format in the present times and the World Test Championship has certainly helped in increasing the popularity of the longest format of the game but ODI cricket has lost its sheen as people don’t prefer to spend the whole day for a match nowadays.
In ODI cricket, 50 overs are played by each side and at present, many cricketers have taken retirement from this format in order to focus on the T20 format and the test format. Many former cricketers have also suggested that the ODI format should be limited to World Cups or some changes should be made in this format in order to revive it.
The former Australian skipper Aaron Finch has also suggested some changes in the ODI format, he said that 50 overs is slow and now it should be reduced to 40 overs per side just like England’s NatWest Pro40 League.
While speaking on a show, Aaron Finch stated that it should be 40 overs as he loved it when he saw it in England in the Pro40 which was a big competition. He said that in his opinion, the 50 over game is too long and the speed (11/12 overs per hour) at which 50 overs are bowled is not acceptable. Talking about the 40 overs match, he said that it may be termed by many as glorified T20 game but in the end, it is all about pulling the crowd in the stadium.
The former legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has also suggested that the ODI format should be reduced to 40 overs and he further said that these 40 overs should be divided in 20-20 overs innings for both the teams.
Calum Ferguson, the former Australian cricketer feels that the big teams should continue playing the 50 overs format but the minnows can play the 40 overs format.
Do you also agree that the time has come to reduce the ODI format to 40 overs from 50 overs?
