Mukul kesavan is right on the money in pointing out how the one-day game in its present form is wholly forgettable (‘rethinking one-day cricket’, March 2002). But I believe the problem lies not so much in the rules but in the insignificance of the matches played. Who would want to remember the seven games between England and south Africa in 1996, even if they were as exciting as they come? The solution would be to make every match count, similar to what the ICC Test Championship has tried to do with Test cricket.
In this context, the much-ridiculed ICC seems to have got something right, at last. By changing the format of the ICC knockout Trophy they have taken a step in the right direction. The 12 participating teams have been divided into four pools of three teams each with only the top teams going on to the semi-finals. This format is much better than the knockout one which puts too much emphasis on luck and form on a given day.
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