First, let us look at the things that the ICC has done since the extremely tiresome and nonsensical 2007 World Cup to make the 50 over format more interesting. The concept of the ‘Super Sub’ if you can recollect it came and went in a jiffy though one has to admit that it was quite an inventive move which could have been tried out for a little longer. The batting power play concept which gave the batting side the liberty to choose when to go hammer and tongs after the ball worked big time has contributed significantly towards making the sleepy overs (20-35) more interesting during both innings. If there was the move to make a ball change mandatory in the 33rd over of each innings which gave the batsmen a harder ball to plonk around instead of the discolored and soft thing that was in use. The bowlers did groan at such a change but then it also eliminated the ambiguity and indecision that many umpires around the world faced when batsmen used to complain about poor visibility of the discolored white ball in the middle part of the innings. There used to be many a long conversation between the umpires, batsmen and the fielding captain before a decision was taken to change or continue with the same ball. Now, a mandatory rule has cut out the confusion.

These are the moves that have to be appreciated as being brave and visionary even though it quite blatantly gave an extra whip in the hands of batsmen, much to the indignation of bowlers. But, for the game to be exciting, any change would have to be accepted. But, no one expected that within a year or so, a T20 World Cup, an IPL and a man called Lalit Modi would make all these changes look so spectacularly ineffective. T20 was in, ODIs were being pushed out. Did the ICC push the panic button?

Everyone has been talking about the decline in popularity of the 50 over game and not without reason. There are only two classes of spectators who are still keen on the 50 over game, they are the connoisseurs and the fanatics. These people will watch cricket, in any form and shape. It is the people in between who are drifting away towards the fast food form of cricket.

Discussions and opinions have said that perhaps there is way too much ODI cricket being played around the world, an overkill which is diluting the impact of the format. This is one sentiment that has to be universally agreed because we see international teams flying from one country to another, playing one bilateral series after another, many of which are of little interest to both participating teams, like the WI-Eng series earlier this year. There are also farces organized in the name to Tri-Nation Cups like the one we saw recently in Sri Lanka where each of the teams played each other only once. At venues where tosses win matches 90% of the time, this can be hardly termed a tri-series. It was all a big joke, a tri-nation cup with just four matches and one team reaching the top of the ratings, only to be dethroned the next day, more by the toss than anything else. The only good things that happened to cricket in those 3 days was Sachin’s 44th century which was any cricket lover’s delight and Sanath Jayasuriya’s return to form. One cannot also help but mention the bilateral series that just finished in England where Australia were landing blow after blow on the hosts before they tripped and fell. In a boxing match, what fun would it be to watch one guy continuing to bash up the other even after knocking him out cold. The Eng-Aus series looked like an unnecessary extension to see when the men from Down Under would make their first mistake, which fortunately came in the last match. Else, it would have been the death of ODIs in England. Cut out a series if there is no more life in it. But, that is not possible when all matches have been scheduled and tickets sold at princely rates. It is all about money. A good example to follow would be the VB Series model at the end of every international season in Australia where the finalists used to play a best of three format with the third final being played only if required. Unfortunately, the tournament was scrapped after 2008 when the Indians so spectacularly won it.

So, where is the self contradictory nature of the ICC? If everyone has agreed that there is an overkill of ODIs in world cricket and there have been many suggestions to improve the quality of the game; the latest being a 25 over innings split; then why is the overkill being stretched far further. Check up the ICC Champions Trophy schedule to understand better. The fact that too many World Cups (T20) stacked up one after the other have already destroyed the thrill of big tournaments has already questioned the viability of the Champions Trophy. The first world T20 was in 2007, we had one this year and the next one is hardly 7 months away and we have to count the IPL and Champions League too. The Champions Trophy doesn’t seem to fit into the scheme of things at all. To add to all the irony we have inconsequential warm up matches being played.

Where does the necessity for these matches come from? Every team worth its salt around the world has complained at least once over the past year about fatigue and too much cricket. Assuming that there is some amount of truth in what they say, do they need any warm up before playing a tournament. The only presumable excuse is of course that all teams need a chance to get used to conditions. But, aren’t there enough local, provincial or first class teams in South Africa to organize friendly tour games. Why do two big international teams have to play out a useless 50 over game that is not even given an official ODI status? How did all the talk about overkill go out of the window? The entire warm up match concept, if you have watched a couple of them, is a complete farce and this is not being said just because India fell nose down to New Zealand. The players just want to get a feel of things, the officials are just about awake and the spectators are only waiting for the real thing to begin. Where did all the wise men go when this fixture was approved? Isn’t this the height of self-contradiction? Wake up ICC, cricket is calling, Wake up.