Australian Opposed to Split Innings in ODIs

Sydney: An internal poll of national-level and state players in Australia reveals that they have emphatically rejected the idea of splitting innings in the one-day international format, a plan put forward by Cricket Australia and to be introduced domestically in the Ford Ranger Cup next summer.

The majority of respondents to an online Herald poll also resisted split-innings cricket, with 52 per cent calling for no change and 22 per cent wanting ODIs eradicated altogether. Various split-innings suggestions received minimal support of eight or nine per cent.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the cricketers want fewer one-dayers and more context for the games they do play, such as adding championship points.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh will meet CA in the next fortnight and deliver the players' message.

"While the survey has yet to be finalised, it is clear from the preliminary result that the players are not supportive of the split-innings format," Marsh said on Friday.

"They do believe there are issues with the current format. However, the overwhelming feedback is that the biggest problem with one-day cricket currently is in the way it is scheduled. It lacks context and there is too much one-day cricket," he added.

Marsh did praise CA for exploring new ways to liven up the one-day format, which has steadily declined since the introduction of Twenty20.

"I applaud CA for having a look at ways to make it better, they understand what the issues are with one-day cricket, and have done a lot of good research," Marsh said. "I'm just not sure at this stage their solution is right, " he added.

The biggest challenge facing CA, aside from the player revolt, is the lack of willingness by India to change a format, which generates billions in revenue.

One-day cricket is the most popular format among sub-continent fans and the television ratings deliver a glorious windfall for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

If the BCCI resists the split-innings idea, which is highly likely, there is no chance it will be ratified by the ICC.