- Cricket worldwide has witnessed mindboggling growth and development in the last decade-and-a-half needs no elaborate discussion. Experts, connoisseurs, and fans following the fortunes of the evolution of cricket around the globe would have noticed how modernity-driven expectations are being met through innovation from time to time. Traditionally, the five-day Test match cricket is still considered the purest form duly recognized by the boards, officials, and fans alike. Recollect how the traditional format used to be played before when the Tests used to meander along leading to dreaded draws. Results from the Tests often ended in no result at all. Something had to be done to ensure fans’ interest in sports remains intact. Trust the administrators to step in when needed.
PC: India TV News
- The advent of 50-over cricket simply revolutionized the way cricket would progress. The Kerry-Packer Series Down Under further empowered cricket in an unimaginably radical manner with the introduction of white balls, coloured clothing, different camera angles, and spectator-oriented tweaks to give further fillip to the sport. The 50-over cricket grew in popularity even as Team India won the 1983 Prudential World Cup beating the overwhelming favourites West Indies. This win completely changed the dynamics of cricket around the world and India by sheer dent of its huge population gained so much traction that the popularity reached stratospheric levels as well as nook and corner of the country in no time. Rest, as they say, is history.
PC: India Today
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has had some of the shrewdest administrators immensely contributing to popularizing the game. The following in India for the game is inconceivably huge leading to a bevy of sponsors and in turn money flowing into the coffers of the BCCI. We are aware of how the shortest format of the game T20 further metamorphosed the game into a money-spinning venture attracting not only big business houses but also offering a great platform for budding cricketers to choose the sport as a life-altering path. The hugely popular and lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) sealed the deal for the BCCI vis-à-vis popularity, following, revenue, and of course, the multitude of youngsters flocking to the sport in droves.
PC: Sporting News
The moot point to ponder over here is where it leaves the 50-over format sandwiched between the traditional five-day Tests and the increasing attractiveness of T20 cricket in the overall scheme of things. Cricketers would readily admit that the 50-over format is relevant despite the shortest format gaining all the attention. However, increased concerns about the viability of the 50-over format keep coming up often for debate that provides no ready answer. The last World Cup in India was hugely successful simply because Team India set the stage on fire. The ongoing ICC-Champions Trophy 50-over event would throw light on where the format is headed. If Team India goes the distance, the format will sustain for some more time vis-à-vis financial viability.
