Is Fifty Over Cricket Dead?

There are many that see the rise of twenty over cricket as the death knell for the fifty over form of the game. This summer in Australia the domestic T20 tournament has smashed the ODI format of the game in relation to crowd numbers. Traditionally Australians have never given a fuck about domestic cricket. No one goes to shield matches except parents and significant others, few go to domestic 50 over games. This year however the Big Bash has outdrew the ODI’s by many thousands. The biggest crowd of the summer so far was for the T20 vs. Pakistan. Not one ODI this season has sold out and that is bad.

Last nights game at The Adelaide Oval was the lowest crowd ever for a fifty over game at the ground, a measly eight thousand.

I don’t think 50 over cricket is dead just yet but the real test will be this years Ashes series. We play seven ODI’s and if these don’t draw then Cricket Australia will have a problem.

I don’t think fifty over cricket will ever die but the bottom line is that money talks. It is inevitable that we will see fewer ODI’s and more T20’s. I don’t mind the twenty over format of the game but being a purist test cricket is where it is at for me.

My concern about the rising popularity of T20 is the long term effects it will have on the game. As it grows in popularity more and more junior players will learn that you should try and belt every ball for a boundary and bowlers will learn to bowl full and straight and nothing else. This will impact on future test players who will have learnt nothing of the skill, finesse and patience needed for test cricket.

That is why it is vital that The Sheffield Shield not be tampered with. If you want to make room for more T20 game then axe Ford Ranger Cup games because no one cares about them anyway