need to revamp ODI'S

Revamping ODI’S - Is It The Way Forward ?


Now a days the debate is heating up with regards to the urge to revamp one day cricket. With the advent of t 20 cricket and its ever growing popularity the cricketing pundits are calling for major alterations in rules of one day cricket. There is a growing concern that the ODI’S have become more or less monotonous with periods of lull especially from overs 16 to 40. The point is well taken but the suggestion of a split innings of 25 overs each would be too radical and would be breaking the overall rhythm of an ODI innings.

Sachin Tendulkar , who has been a major advocator of the split innings argues that the element of luck involved in winning the toss would be negated to a larger extent. The maestro further adds that in the present scenario the outcome of nearly 75 % of matches can be known after the toss. With due respect to the maestro this would be a very general statement which might hold true in sub continental conditions but not anywhere else in the world. The advocators of a split innings format often insist that both the teams would get an opportunity to bat under lights during a day night affair thereby negating any undue advantage garnered by the team winning the toss. Although I am willing to buy this argument but with a split innings format of 25 overs each the ODI’S would be converted virtually into a slug fest of 2 T 20 matches rolled into a single one day affair with very little difference between a T 20 match and an ODI.

I would like to think of a situation where in the role of a captain should be looked at seriously and there should be a provisioning where in a particular move or a tactic made by the fielding captain should be penalized or rewarded depending on the result of the move. Over the years the captains have become very monotonous in their way of functioning or field placing, the captains should be encouraged to chalk out some innovative strategy of field placing and induce the batsmen into committing a mistake. The art of proactive captaincy and the ability of forcing the batsmen to make a mistake has become virtually nonexistent. Overall I think that the one day cricket should not be tinkered with much barring a few areas keeping in mind that all the 3 forms of cricket must retain a distinct flavor and each game requires a distinct set of players having different set of skills.