Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has strongly criticized the rules in One Day International (ODI) cricket. He believes these rules heavily favor batsmen, leading to the format’s decline as players increasingly choose to play in T20 leagues.
Ali, who played 138 ODIs for England, scoring 2,355 runs and taking 111 wickets, argues that ODI cricket, except for major tournaments like World Cups and Champions Trophy, is losing its appeal. He described it as the “worst format to play” for several reasons.
He pointed out rule changes, such as having only four fielders outside the circle after the initial powerplay, compared to five in the past. This, along with the use of two new balls instead of one, makes batting much easier, especially in the middle overs.
“The rules are terrible,” Moeen stated. He believes the extra fielder inside the circle makes it difficult for bowlers to take wickets and build pressure. He noted that batsmen now frequently achieve high averages in ODIs because of these rules. The ease with which batsmen can score, even against good deliveries, further diminishes the bowler’s impact.
The use of two new balls also eliminates reverse swing, another crucial skill for bowlers, especially with older balls. According to Moeen, this combination of factors has led to a decline in the quality and excitement of 50-over cricket. He concludes that “50-over cricket has died.”
Moeen also cautioned that the lucrative nature of T20 franchise leagues is attracting players away from international cricket, potentially leading to premature retirements from the international game.
He suggests that the significant money offered in these leagues is too tempting for many cricketers to refuse, which poses a threat to the future of international cricket, particularly the ODI format.
