ODI Cricket’s Future: Mark Waugh Predicts a Shift Towards Major Tournaments
As the international cricket calendar becomes increasingly congested, Australian cricket legend Mark Waugh believes that One-Day International (ODI) cricket may face a gradual decline, with its future primarily confined to major tournaments like the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy.
Waugh’s prediction stems from Australia’s recent 1-2 ODI series loss to Pakistan, where a second-string Australian side struggled in the absence of its star Test players. The poor batting performances in the second and third ODIs, where Australia was dismissed for just 163 and 140 runs respectively, raised concerns about the format’s relevance in the modern era.
According to Waugh, the proliferation of bilateral ODI series has diluted the format’s significance. “The World Cup and the Champions Trophies are still great events,” he said. “But given the scheduling of all these T20 tournaments around now, it’s squeezing out 50-over bilateral series.”
Waugh believes that the value of bilateral ODIs may diminish as the calendar becomes even more packed with T20 leagues and tournaments. “I think it will get phased out,” he added. “I think that’s probably the way to go.”
However, Waugh does not advocate for the complete elimination of ODI cricket. He suggests that the format could be preserved for exclusive events like the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy. “When you get towards these big tournaments like a World Cup, then you might introduce some more games as lead-ups,” he said.
Waugh’s prediction aligns with the observations of other cricket commentators, such as Ian Healy and Michael Clarke, who have suggested that Cricket Australia may be losing interest in low-stakes bilateral series.
As the international cricket landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether ODI cricket will retain its prominence or gradually fade into the background, with its future primarily tied to major tournaments.
