The ODI debate

Rohit Brijnath is one of the best sports writers around - based in Australia now, it is unfortunate that he does not write more regularly on Indian cricket/sport (he does have a weekly in the Hindu, and occasionally in BBC website, but little else). I remember his Sportstar writing vividly, and wasn't he a host of a TV sports program on DD many moons ago?

Please take the time off to read this wonderful piece on the glut that is one day cricket.

The entire conversation of cricket has altered. Debate on footwork or whether spinners should toss the ball up has vanished, an old appreciation slowly leaching out of the stadium. Instead, we are now a reactive audience.

The world's finest batsman once is now Tendulkar one day, Endulkar the next. Sehwag is God with every six and devil when caught on the boundary. Captains are hailed at 20 overs and heckled at 40.

There was a time when I remembered everything there was to remember about every cricket game played, especially if India was involved. I don't, anymore. When did Dravid score an ODI century last? When did Kumble last pick 4 wickets in an innings? Do you remember a recent McGrath ODI spell where he took out the top order cheaply? I don't. I know that generally India are losing more than they are winning - but I don't immediately recall what the scoreline was when Pakistan came to India in 2005! You know things are getting out of hand when you start forgetting India - Pakistan encounters.

Mercifully, my Test cricket knowledge has remained reasonably intact - obviously because India plays very little Test cricket nowadays, and personally for me Test Cricket is quite enjoyable.

Look, I am not being this snooty English-media fed bugger who claims Test cricket is the ultimate, and everything else is hogwash. I think one day cricket and Twenty20 cricket are very entertaining, and are responsible in more ways than one for reviving Test cricket worldwide. My grouse is with the quantity - which has a serious effect on quality. Cricket series must have a meaning, a set routine and must build on a sense of anticipation. There must be something more than just the day's match to play for. When India played the Test series in the Windies this summer, they were playing for a first series win outside the subcontinent for donkeys' years. Now that is memorable. Contrast that with when India played in KL later on in a tri-series. Contrast that now with the Ashes - with a 100 year plus history. The World Cup has huge merit - and so will the Champions Trophy - only if the ICC got its scheduling right. I am also looking forward to India touring South Africa this Nov - to see how Dhoni, Raina and the young uns cope on the first real test of pace and bounce. The ODIs and Tests there will be exciting to watch.

It does not take an advanced degree in space research or the intellect of Duckworth and Lewis to come up with a schedule that provides meaning and context to bilateral series for both Tests and ODIs. Then, and only then, will every ODI played have relevance and meaning tonight's TV analysis and tomorrows' screaming headlines. I shudder to think of what will happen if and when countries start scheduling stand-alone Twenty20 tri-series in Papua New Guinea just because they have the weekend off.

Less, sometimes, is really more.