Aaron Finch, the former captain of Australia, advocates for significant modifications to the One Day International (ODI) format in order to attract spectators back to the stadium. The proliferation of franchise leagues worldwide has diminished the appeal of ODI cricket, a trend that was seen during the non-India matches in the ODI World Cup 2023.
According to Aaron Finch, the length of a match is excessive because he stated that it takes bowlers an hour to complete 10–12 overs, which he finds unacceptable.
The ex-cricketer desires to modify the structure and implement 40-over contests. He referenced England’s NatWest Pro40 League as an example and urges the International Play Council (ICC) to contemplate its implementation for safeguarding ODI play.
“I believe the match duration extends to 40 overs. I would be delighted to witness such a format being introduced in England. Previously, they had the pro-40 tournament, which was a highly significant competition.” In my perspective, I believe that the duration of the game is beyond a reasonable length. The pace at which the teams deliver their 50 overs is remarkably sluggish, averaging approximately 11 or 12 overs per hour, which is deemed unsatisfactory. Finch said that while some may say that it is merely an elevated version of a T20 game, the significance lies in the presence and enthusiasm of the spectators.
I maintain my belief that the 50-over game is exhilarating. Callum Ferguson
Contrary to Finch’s proposal, ex-cricketer Callum Ferguson argued that 50-over cricket remains thrilling. He suggested that Finch’s concept may be used in contests involving lower-ranked teams.
“I am not fully convinced of that for every series.” In my opinion, when top-tier teams compete against each other, the 50-over cricket game remains thrilling and the fluctuations in momentum are delightful. However, when the matches become heavily one-sided, such as the case with the West Indies team struggling to regain their position in the World Cup, I believe reducing the number of overs to 40 might be more suitable for such series. This adjustment could potentially create more balanced competition.
Similarly, the renowned batsman Sachin Tendulkar proposed dividing 40-over contests into four halves, resembling the structure of Test cricket.
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