The once-feared Test cricket has now been overtaken by One-Day international cricket as the format which now stands on the verge of extinction. In fact, since the 2019 World Cup, while the number of matches has increased in both Test and T20I format in a calendar year, the ODI format has witnessed a significant dip with 2020 witnessing the lowest ever number of matches in 50-overs cricket since 1991. Speaking on the future of the format, former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja had a rather blunt reaction.
The discussion over the future of ODI cricket begun only last week after England all-rounder Ben Stokes had announced his retirement from the format. The star cricketer, just 31, had played a pivotal role in England's historic 2019 World Cup win.
Speaking to Fan Code during the 2nd ODI match between India and West Indies, Jadeja explained that the media rights for T20 format has been more and hence ODI cricket has seen this dip before he sighted that the length of the format is a bit too long compared to T20s. Jadeja however admitted that Test cricket will forever have a place in international cricket irrespective of the rise in shorter formats.
“There was a time when ODI cricket had arrived and then lesser Test matches were being played because that is again, more productive for the players, broadcasters and for the association. Broadcasters play a key role. If you notice, whichever gets the higher media rights that gets more popularity. ODI was expensive at one point of time. Then T20 came. Now their rights have increased and hence ODIs are being played less. But Test will forever remain. In fact, India are playing more Test match now than they played 20-30 years back. But ODI...7 ghante kiske paas he agar saare teen ghante me kaam chalta he?” he said
{{/usCountry}}“There was a time when ODI cricket had arrived and then lesser Test matches were being played because that is again, more productive for the players, broadcasters and for the association. Broadcasters play a key role. If you notice, whichever gets the higher media rights that gets more popularity. ODI was expensive at one point of time. Then T20 came. Now their rights have increased and hence ODIs are being played less. But Test will forever remain. In fact, India are playing more Test match now than they played 20-30 years back. But ODI...7 ghante kiske paas he agar saare teen ghante me kaam chalta he?” he said
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, former India head coach Ravi Shastri had suggested that the ODI format can be reduced to 40 overs from 50.
“There is no harm in shortening the span of the game. When one-day cricket started, it was of 60 overs. When we won the World Cup in 1983, it was of 60 overs. After that, people thought that 60 overs were a bit too long. People found that span of overs between 20 to 40 hard to digest. So they reduced it from 60 to 50. So years have gone by now since that decision so why not reduce it from 50 to 40 now. Because you got to be forward-thinking and evolve. It stayed for 50 for too long," he said on Fan Code.