Synopsis
Jos Buttler, England's ODI captain, acknowledges the decline of 50-over cricket due to the rise of franchise formats but insists that players still value the ODI World Cup more than the T20 variant. With upcoming tournaments, the future relevance of ODIs remains uncertain.Key Takeaways
- Jos Buttler highlights the marginalization of 50-over cricket.
- Players still prioritize winning the ODI World Cup over the T20.
- Franchise cricket's rise impacts traditional formats.
- Buttler enjoys 50-over cricket and misses playing.
- Strong teams attract viewers, regardless of format.
Nagpur, Feb 5 (NationPress) With the rise of franchise cricket globally, the 50-over format has been relegated to the sidelines, struggling to secure its position in the cricketing landscape, acknowledged England's ODI captain Jos Buttler. Nevertheless, he emphasized that he prioritizes winning the ODI World Cup over the T20 World Cup.
Buttler's comments came as England is set to play their first ODI in India since the 2023 World Cup, while India has only participated in three 50-over matches this year, coinciding with their second T20 World Cup title. Both teams are gearing up for the Champions Trophy later this month, with only the current three-match series as preparation.
"Recently, 50-over cricket has certainly been pushed more towards the sidelines due to scheduling and the growth of T20 and franchise cricket," Buttler noted just before the commencement of the three-match series against India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium.
He added, "However, I believe if you ask players about winning a World Cup, many would still choose the 50-over World Cup over the T20 World Cup at this moment."
Buttler expressed uncertainty about whether this sentiment would persist in the future, stating, "The schedules always play a significant role."
The England captain personally prefers ODI cricket to the shorter formats, though he missed the recent five-match series against Australia at home, which England lost 2-3 in September 2024.
"Honestly, I really enjoy 50-over cricket. It has always been one of my favorite formats," Buttler remarked.
He also stated that regardless of the format, if two strong teams compete, people will come to watch. "If the best players are on the field against each other, fans will always be excited to see it," he added.
Despite the 50-over format being sidelined and the top players participating in shorter formats through franchise cricket worldwide, there is a clear need for the ODI format to regain its significance in the long run.
