Over the past ten years or so, T20 cricket has witnessed a sharp rise in popularity. The increase has been so tremendous that cricket has penetrated even the remotest parts of the globe.
On the contrary, the very same T20 format is putting the life of other formats, i.e. Test and ODI, at risk. Not long ago, even the MCC’s World Cricket Committee cast doubt on the value of the ODI format to international cricket.
Thus, the question that cricket lovers, like you and me, are left with is: will we be able to witness the coexistence of all three formats in the future? Let’s seek the answer.
What is the future of Cricket?
To begin with, let’s discuss Test cricket – the oldest and the longest format of the game. Test cricket is the ultimate cricket format of all. If you ask a real cricket lover what their favorite cricket format is, they will definitely reply, Test cricket.
But the question is will people really be able to dedicate five full days to watch a single match? And can poor cricket boards financially manage to run Test matches?
The past two or three years have the answer to this question. The WTC (World Test Championship) has since 2019 rekindled the passion for Test cricket. However, most cricket boards are more interested in their T20 franchise leagues and the consequent revenues rather than slowly playing Test cricket.
To illustrate the case, South Africa, which used to be a dominating force in Test cricket, will play only 12 matches in the WTC cycle 2023-25. Such a situation is saddening, particularly because plus they are focusing all their attention on the T20 league SA20 and leaving Test cricket behind.
Also, financially it is not possible to hold Test matches in terms of the revenue that could be generated from ticket sales and broadcasting rights (apart from England, which attracts large crowds for Test matches). The ICC and all the member countries need to work together very hard to come up with a solution that will allow the traditional format to survive.
Now we come to the one-day international (ODI) format, which was considered a lovely format of the game until 2015. The number of teams playing bilateral ODIs has gone down to a great extent because of the busy global calendar. Besides, the ODI matches do not excite the kids and teenagers.
MCC’s World Cricket Committee proposed in July 2023 to cut down on bilateral ODIs and have ODIs only before an ICC event which would lead to an improvement in the quality of 50-over cricket.
The proposal is justifiable as it would result in international cricket’s congested calendar being unwound, making rooms for Test matches. Additionally, it would build up the audience right before the major events like the Cricket World Cup and Champions Trophy, which will be just like giving a treat to cricket lovers. Thus, it is a win-win situation for all the parties involved.
Then we got to the T20 format. The shortest format of the game is the one that will lead the future of cricket. And this is already visible by the fact that the ICC has raised the number of teams that can take part in the T20 World Cup to 20. It is a little bit similar to the FIFA World Cup, but cricket is still behind football in this regard.
With T20 gaining more and more popularity, the ICC is now considering introducing T20I cricket in the Olympics to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
The format is also helping in drawing people to countries where cricket is not very famous as new T20 leagues are starting up, thanks to the IPL’s success. These leagues are also permitting more players to exhibit their talents and make a living. Plus, these players are getting a chance to play with the greats, which is a big plus for their skill development.
The T20 format’s hype is definitely going to continue, as it enables franchises to create an amazing team.
What to expect in the future?
So, if you go back to the original question, will the 3 formats still be around together in the future? The answer is a yes, but with some changes.
T20 matches are able to attract big audiences. This is the reason why big money is involved here, and this money will be the one that supports the sport. However, the world is getting faster and there are likely to be some administrators, players, and fans who will always prefer Test matches and will enjoy their slow progress.
Cricket has undergone changes through the decades, and now all these stakeholders will determine the fate of the three formats in terms of their co-existence.
