September 5, 2009: BANISHING 50-over cricket from England's domestic schedule could have dire consequences for the team's World Cup campaigns, says national captain Andrew Strauss.
Clearly not a fan of his board's decision to axe 50-over cricket for a shortened 40-over format from next season, Strauss said domestic cricket should mirror internationals, and believes one-dayers will survive in the face of mounting pressure from Twenty20s.
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| Andrew Strauss |
''Forty-over cricket is not radically different from 50-over cricket, but it just seems sensible to me that if you're playing 50-over cricket internationally and your domestic scene is a way of preparing people for international cricket, you should be playing the same game,'' Strauss said.
''At the moment, there is a future to 50-over cricket. There are no plans that I've heard of to get rid of it. My personal view is that domestic cricket should mirror international cricket, so in that respect, playing 40-over cricket is not ideal.''
South Africa had already reduced its domestic competition to 45 overs, and when the England and Wales Cricket Board voted last week to eradicate the 50-over game it was received as a further nail in the coffin for one-day internationals, which have struggled for identity and prominence in an increasingly crowded schedule.
Many commentators have called for the demise of 50-over cricket, but this year Australia plays more one-dayers than any other format. It is at the start of a seven-match series against England, after which is the Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa, followed by another seven-match series in India.
It also plays five matches each against the West Indies and Pakistan during the home summer.
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