Is the One Day International game under threat from the Twenty20 format or is the shorter format helping make the 50 over format a better game? I attended the 3rd ODI between Australia and India at the MCG on Sunday and saw a thoroughly entertaining, high quality contest. Nearly 600 runs scored. Top class batting from Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. A game that had a crowd of over 47,000 fixated right to the end. The large Indian contingent, mostly in the blue colours of their team, waving many, many Indian flags, made for a wonderful atmosphere. My two young boys, who have become T20 devotees, were at their first 50 over game and absolutely loved it. The TV ratings peaked at 1.392 million in Australia, the top ranked show in the nation on the night. A few people probably watched in India as well. As last Summer’s World Cup showed, the ODI format is alive and well, especially when the games mean something. I’ve ranted about this before. Meaningful fixtures will ensure the future of ODI’s. Link everything to the quadrennial World Cup. Simple.
The great man Dean Jones in the wonderful gold cap
While fixturing is the cause, and solution, to most of One-Day cricket’s problems, I can reveal another factor that has affected the 50 over format’s popularity in this country. An easily fixed factor. It’s been going on since the mid 1990’s. The Australian ODI cap has been the cause of most of ODI cricket’s woes down under. It’s time to right this wrong.
The late, great DW Hookes always looked suave in the gold cap
The great modern cricket revolutionist, George Bailey, has partially started the movement we had to have. What a wonderful sight the floppy gold is. The game is indebted to GJ Bailey’s actions, nothing less than a return to the Test team for the great Tasmanian would be a just reward.
George Bailey, an inspirational figure in his floppy gold.
Last used in South Africa at the tail end of the 1993/94 season, the ‘reverse baggy-green’ was discarded for the 1994/95 season for baseball style caps. This style has been in use ever since.
The tragedy of the 1994/95 move to baseball caps still lingers
Twenty20 cricket is now the perfect format for baseball style caps, given the closeness between the two games. The ‘traditional’ limited overs format, with 45 years of tradition at International level, deserves a return to traditional values. Starting with the return to the beautiful gold cap. Let the kiddies wear their Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers baseball style caps. While letting our star ODI players have the honour of a traditional ODI cap.
Tim Zoehrer has his hand up in support of the return of the gold cap
While we are at it, every player who represented Australia in ODI cricket after 1993/94 should retrospectively be awarded a gold cap. From legends like Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Mike Hussey and Gavin Robertson to the guys who only had a brief turn in the team. Names like Brad Young, Michael Di Venuto, Brett Geeves, Shane Harwood, Dan Cullen and Graham Manou. All deserving of a decent cricket cap.
Captain Grumpy gave his all for the gold cap
Up to you now Cricket Australia. A great traditional format needs a great traditional cap. And the best cap is a cricket cap. Not a baseball cap. Bring back the gold cap. Nothing would bring more joy than to see the 212th Australian ODI player, hopefully a super talented Victorian like Peter Handscomb, receive a gold cap on his debut.
Warnie shows his support for the return of the gold cap with his new Tinder profile pic
#bringbackthegoldcap
Gday Luke
I was there on Sunday night for my first ODI. Had my 19 and 21 year old kids with me for their first taste of cricket. They enjoyed it mostly for the atmosphere created by the Indian supporters. The game itself was okay. However the incessant music and ground announcements combined with breaks for channel 9 adds was ridiculous. The baggy yellow will only go so far I’m afraid although if it was placed down the throat of bloke with the mic I could reconsider.
cheers
Tony
I’m with you on that one, Luke (& some great pics in there). Of course you are right about the fixturing. I worry that India visiting this year and last has painted a falsely rosy picture of where ODIs are at in Australia. Take the Indian fans out and how many have been at those games? As well as having relevant fixtures my old bugbears of ticket pricing and pitch preparation are the other factors I worry about. Someone tweeted last night that after booking fees etc, their one ticket to the 5th ODI cost $140. The ODIs are consistently rating a few hundred thousand more than BBL but for how long?
Luke any thing which which includes and in some regards creates history with giving each player a ODI cap and number and including each game re towards World Cup seeding is worth it.I am with Dave tho having,India here created the numbers and atmosphere I don’t think any other nation could create that magnitude and while I still like 1 day cricket I am sure every 1 was wondering whether the game in,Canberra in particular was a game with both teams trying to win ? The main thing I enjoyed in this series was,Smiths captaincy a mile in front of Dhoni tactically thanks,Luke
Totally agree with the return of the baggy gold instead of bloody baseball caps.
As a proud Tasmanian, might start the #bringbackgeorgebaileytothetestteam campaign
Good call to arms here Luke. I especially liked the “A great traditional format needs a great traditional cap. And the best cap is a cricket cap” which I read in my best John Mellion voice. The Warnie Tinder caption is gold too. In the modern world with AFL clubs revealing three new jumpers/ guernseys each season then surely we can have the retro yellow cricket cap. As Roy would say, “The kiddies would love it,”
G’day Tony. The announcements and music are far too much. Would be happy for CA to order an extra cap for said ground announcers throat!
Spot on Dave, ticket prices for ODI’s (and Tests) are ridiculous. A major slashing of prices would surely result in better crowds. Big crowds look great on TV.Where does most of cricket’s income come from again?
Cheers Malcolm, Smith’s captaincy certainly grew during this series. I like his approach to it.
Barry, I’ll be the first to back your campaign.
Mickey, I wrote that line in my best John Mellion voice! Glad you also picked up on the Roy reference.
I’m unsure where ODIs fit into the scheme of things; suffice to say there were good numbers all round for the World Cup, but that is a 4-yearly event which captures the imagination.
I’m all for the baggy gold cap, Luke.
#bringbackthegoldcap
Smokie, I hope the administrators, when scheduling T20 games in the future don’t do what they did to ODI’s- play too many matches, with far too many of those being meaningless. Keep that hashtag going #bringbackthegoldcap
Im a fan of the George Bailey Gold floppy. Maybe they could give one to Khawaja and win some more games?
I concur 100% on the caps Luke but on the bright side at least we’ve ditched the green ODI uniforms. Though I’d love to see a gold (or is it canary yellow?) outfit retrofitted with the gloriously daggy green panels c1981-83.
Shane Harwood – now that’s an obscure blast from the past.
Excellent point Raj.
JD- We’ve always looked better in gold uniforms. And too much like Pakistan or South Africa in green.
Fantastic cricketer was “Stickers” Harwood.