INTERVIEW | This World Cup is an advert why ODI format should stay as it is, says Viv Richards

Sir Viv Richards believes 50-over format should remain intact as it offers players enough time to get in and score impressive runs. He believes it is the best format after Test cricket and is an advert for why it should stay. He also believes it is the foundation for those who want to go further.

The future of ODI cricket has been the most-debated topic before and during the World Cup. Sir Viv Richards shared his thoughts on why the 50-over format should remain intact.

Oh, yes! So I am hoping that the 50-over stays because there has been talk that they are looking at whether or not (to persist with it). But from what we have seen so far in terms of just the play and the excitement, I am a fan of what I have seen and I am hoping the 50-50 format stays.

This is the most important format of the game that you can find after Test cricket. It gives players an opportunity, 50 overs to get themselves in. That’s enough time. In order for you to accomplish your innings and from what we would have seen as well, we look at some of the scores in the World Cup thus far. They have been highly impressive and exciting... if anyone starts thinking about this now, I just believe it will just be ludicrous because I am hoping that this is here to stay for quite some time. This particular World Cup, in a sense, would have sent that message that would have been the greatest advert for why this particular tournament should remain.

It would be. I just felt that it’s like golf, we have various formats. You know you try and let that be played out at some point, and if you ask maybe the individuals who appreciate it, they will tell you. I am hoping that they will give you an honest answer that this 50-50 stuff is the next best thing to the greatest tournament that can be played after Test cricket. Test cricket, it’s just (right up there), because we all know the substance of Tests.

I don’t think we would want individuals going from Test matches because some are still not wanting to play the five-day version.

Listen, listen. You know what? Sometimes we upset the apple cart and anyone that tells me what they would have seen so far in this particular World Cup, you have guys scoring the amount of hundreds scored, the double hundred as well in the circumstances. This World Cup, in itself, is an advert why the tournament should stay as it is.

It’s great. Where on earth in the modern day, would you have heard the guy scoring 200 in especially the circumstances — at 90-whatever for seven — and still getting it done. Just from that particular outing for me, the 50s should remain because look at the de Kocks, the Kohlis, the Markrams, you look at it. It is the best format after (Tests) and then when you have accomplished, maybe, the 50-50 stuff, you can just have the greatest fun.