The Aussie legend Ricky Ponting feels that international cricket may be heading toward a future with far fewer ODIs. The former Australia captain believes that as T20 cricket keeps expanding, through more leagues and more international fixtures, the 50-over format is the one most likely to lose out.
With franchise tournaments multiplying around the world and T20 internationals eating up more calendar space, there’s simply less room left for ODIs. Ricky Ponting says he isn’t happy about this trend but he accepts it as a reality that cricket will eventually have to confront. He explained that with each passing year, as T20 cricket and its franchise leagues keep growing, ODI cricket is increasingly likely to be scheduled less often. He called this shift unavoidable, adding that he personally isn’t happy about where things are headed.
Meanwhile, the ICC isn’t sitting idle. The governing body has already tweaked the two-new-ball rule to tilt things back in bowlers’ favor and reports suggest it may also push for more three- or four-team multi-lateral series, a move meant to give bilateral ODI cricket more meaning and context outside of major tournaments.
Despite his worries about ODIs fading, Ricky Ponting isn’t sounding the alarm for Test cricket. He believes the format’s survival depends on the biggest cricket boards staying committed to it and he’s confident they will. He said he personally loves Test cricket but acknowledged that some format has to make way. As long as powerhouses like India, Australia, England and South Africa continue backing Test cricket, he believes it will stay strong, which is why, in his view, ODI cricket is the format most likely to be squeezed out.
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