Buzz Up ICC chief backs ODIs as 3,000th match looms

LONDON: International cricket chief Haroon Lorgat insisted one-day internationals still had a future as England and Australia prepared to contest the 3,000th one-day at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Lorgat was adamant they would "continue to evolve and remain popular the world over" despite widespread concerns the 50-over game has been made to look stale and formulaic by the rise of Twenty20.

One-day internationals started by accident, when Australia played England in Melbourne in 1971.

"That game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was arranged on very short notice after a Test match had been washed out and nobody was really sure what would happen," said Lorgat in a statement issued from the ICC's Dubai headquarters.

"When around 46,000 people showed up to watch I think the organisers realised they were on to something big," the South African added.

"Since that day it has been hugely successful and we have been treated to some of the great moments of cricket through ODIs.

They certainly went on to become the commercial engine-driver of global cricket with the first men's World Cup staged in England in 1975 when the West Indies beat Australia at Lord's in what is still widely regarded as the best final in the tournament's history.

The game, now played over 50 overs per side, proved especially popular in India, cricket's financial powerhouse, and India, with 746 ODIs, has played more than any other county although Australia are close behind with 742, of which they've won 461 and lost just 249 "Even this year, Sachin Tendulkar's double century in an ODI showed this format still had the capacity to inspire thrilling feats of brilliance from the world's best cricketers," Lorgat said.

"That first ODI nearly 40 years ago involved the bowling of 40 eight-ball overs per innings and the structure of the game has been constantly evolving ever since.

"Over the years various initiatives have been trialed and refined and we now have quite a different spectacle to the one that was first on show," said Lorgat in a reference to coloured clothing, fielding restrictions and powerplays.

But the sheer volume of one-day internationals -- Tuesday's match will be the first of five between England and Australia, who played seven one-dayers has led many critics to accuse officials of 'killing the golden goose'.

However, Lorgat said: "The broad appeal remains strong. ODIs still attract big crowds and enormous television viewing figures.

"As we prepare for the tenth staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka next year, the importance of this format to the game remains very high.

"I have no doubt the ODI will continue to adapt and evolve."

Despite taking place on the same day as an ODI between Sri Lanka and India in Dambulla, the England v Australia fixture on June 22 is considered to be the 3,000th as it begins after the other match.