‘Difficult to think of cricket without 50-over version’: Jonty Rhodes

Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes expressed his belief that it is difficult to imagine cricket without the 50-over format, despite concerns that there may be fewer bilateral ODI series in the future. Rhodes made this statement during the jersey launch of European T20 Premier League (ETPL) team Rotterdam Dockers.

Rhodes noted that while T20 cricket has not put undue pressure on Test cricket, some Test matches now exhibit aggressive batting and bowling comparable to T20. He suggested that the 50-over format might be at risk in the coming years due to its ability to attract a fresh crowd and provide a different perspective to the game.

Rhodes emphasized that the passionate fan base for 50-over cricket is a significant advantage, as supporters will back their teams regardless of the format. He expressed his concern that fewer bilateral series may be held in the future, but he firmly believes that the 50-over version will remain an integral part of cricket.

In a separate interview, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also expressed his view that while T20 cricket is here to stay, the future of ODIs is uncertain. He highlighted the need for T20 cricket to improve and become a viable option for globalizing the sport, which could eventually lead to it being included in the Olympics. Ashwin stressed that T20s would be at the forefront of these efforts and that a shorter game would be more beneficial.