By IANS
Melbourne : Former Australian spin legend Shane Warne feels that to counter the increasing popularity of Twenty20 games, one-day internationals (ODI) should be reduced from 50 to 40 overs, it was reported by the media here Friday.
“One thing I believe is that 50 overs is gone. I believe Twenty20 should be one form of the game, keep that to a minimum and keep it special because it is so entertaining,” Warne was quoted as saying by The Herald Sun.
“I also believe that 50-overs competition should now be 40 overs, so we have a 40-over competition, Twenty20 and Test cricket,” he added.
The 38-year-old former spinner also believes that the shortest form of the game would be a hit with the minnows.
“Twenty20 is how minor nations, the likes of Canada and Holland, can improve and promote the game,” he said.
Warne’s comments came at a time when public interest in ODI matches seems to be waning and 40 overs matches, which has been successful at domestic level in England, is growing in popularity.
The decline in ODIs was visible in this year’s Caribbean World Cup, which was poorly attended. The crowd numbers for the just-concluded Chappell-Hadlee series were also down.
“Experiencing Pro40 in England, it’s like two Twenty20 games. The way society is, everybody wants everything fast. Pro40, there is still skill involved.
“You can start Pro40 at 4 p.m. and be finished at 10 p.m. That’s good. You can have a day game as well, starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 4 p.m., and have two games a day,” Warne said.
Although he is sceptical about the future of ODI cricket, he believes that Test cricket, which is the traditional form of the game, is under no threat.
“Everything is very good, don’t change it, don’t touch it. Test cricket is for tradition,” said Warne, who claimed 708 Test wickets to be second on the all-time list behind Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.