Ricky Ponting believes ODI cricket could gradually become the biggest casualty of cricket’s increasingly packed calendar, with the former Australia captain predicting that 50-over matches will be played less frequently as T20 cricket continues to expand.
The rapid growth of franchise leagues and the increasing number of T20 internationals have left limited room in the international calendar, prompting concerns over where ODI cricket fits in. Ponting admitted he is not comfortable with the direction the game is heading, despite accepting that something will eventually have to give.
“As the months go by and the years go by and more and more T20 cricket is being played and more franchises and franchise tournaments are starting around the world, it’s
more and more likely that 50-over cricket is probably going to be played less. It’s inevitable, which I’m not a huge fan of, to be honest,” Ponting told PTI.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been trying hard to turn the tide. It has taken steps like changing the two new-ball rule to give bowlers more to work with, and is also said to be mulling a push for more multi-lateral series, involving three or four teams, to add context to non-tournament matches.
While he fears a gradual decline in the relevance of ODIs, Ponting does not expect Test cricket to face the same threat. He believes the longest format will remain secure as long as the major cricketing nations continue to prioritise it.
“I love playing that format of the game, but something’s got to give somewhere. Test cricket is still going to remain strong as long as India, Australia, England and probably South Africa want Test cricket to remain strong. It will. So something’s got to give. And the obvious one is 50-over cricket,” he said.
