Explained: Why Should ODI Tri-Series Make A Comeback?

The tri-series concept in One Day International (ODI) cricket can bring high-stakes matches, competitiveness, and excitement to the 50-over format. With the rise of lucrative franchise T20 leagues, the ODI tri-series has struggled to attract massive interest in modern cricket.

A decade ago, a well-structured ODI tri-series served as a saviour when bilateral 50-over series struggled to captivate dedicated cricket fans.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a new structure for the next Future Tours Programme (FTP) 2027-31 cycle: reducing bilateral ODIs and increasing T20Is.

Let’s find out why reviving tri-series tournaments could prove vital for ODI cricket's survival as it struggles to compete amid the massive boom of global T20 leagues.

Australia Hosting Limited ODIs in Modern Cricket

During the tri-series era’s domination, 131 ODI matches were reported to be hosted in Australia between 2005 and 2014. After the 2015 World Cup, the Aussies' ODI hosting count has shrunk to a mere tally of 49.

Most importantly, subcontinental players need to gain exposure to pace-friendly conditions in SENA countries— South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.

Sri Lanka Played Zero ODIs in Australia Since 2015

Shockingly, Sri Lanka hasn’t played a single ODI match in Australia since Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s retirement from the format in 2015.

Considering the tri-series era, the Lankans appeared in 35+ ODIs on Australian soil. The Commonwealth Bank Series 2012 was Sri Lanka’s last tri-series in Australia.

After drawing a five-match ODI series 2–2 in January 2013, Sri Lanka’s last ODI appearance in Australia came at the 2015 World Cup.

Perfect Preparation For Key ICC Events

The main reason to revive the ODI tri-series format is to prepare players for multi-nation ICC Events— the Cricket World Cup and Champions Trophy, the world’s biggest ODI tournaments.

Despite the huge significance, international teams have prioritised only a few bilateral series in their four-year FTP cycle.

From experts' point of view, the ODI tri-series eliminates the preparation gap by benefiting teams in multiple ways, such as:

Refine players' skills under pressure and gain experience to play high-risk, high-reward contests.
Alters the playing style against multiple opponents.
Prompts captains to think outside their box and make strategic decisions across varying weather and pitch conditions.
The points table mathematics and net-run-rate add significance to every match throughout the tournament.
Improvement in players’ mental resilience through long and multi-stage campaigns.

Tri-Series vs Bilateral Series: Net-Run-Rate Trap vs Dead Rubber

ODI tri-series gives a marquee tournament-like atmosphere where every match is a do-or-die situation. The Net Run Rate (NRR) adds more intrigue to the competition, playing a deciding factor in teams' points table rankings.

Here is how the NRR trap works in ODI triangular and quadrangular series, increasing fan engagement:

Teams face the tactical dilemma of chasing aggressive run-rate targets rather than focusing on narrow-margin wins. For instance, chasing a 330 target in 40 overs instead of 50 or defending a 150 total in under 20 overs.
A single heavy defeat can get a team knocked out of the tournament regardless of the same number of matches won as the rival team.
Chained points table equations give a similar thrill to franchise T20 leagues. For example, the match outcome of Team A vs Team B may cause Team C to get eliminated.

Conversely, a 3-match bilateral ODI series is sometimes viewed as a dead rubber. This is because if a team wins the first two matches, the third game would no longer be viewed as a series decider clash, leading to multiple drawbacks such as:

Decline in viewership rate
Huge revenue losses for broadcasters
Last match in a series viewed as an experimental fixture for both players and fans.

Overall, the concept is straightforward. Instead of three to five repetitive matches between two nations, fans can expect multiple combinations of contests featuring three teams.

Bring ODI Format on a Larger Scale

In recent years, slotting a few bilateral series into a thin international calendar has become easy.

Expanding the 50-over format to triangular or quadrangular series has been a gruelling task because of the innumerable reasons that include:

Players face severe burnout due to heavy workloads amid busy international and franchise league commitments.
Difficult to accommodate multiple nations within a single tournament window in a compact timeframe.
Complicated logistics and narrow profit margins shared among three nations' cricket boards.

Here is how the tri-series can be reintroduced on a large scale from the forthcoming FTP programme:

Proper scheduling coordination among three or more cricketing nations.
Effective player rotation policy consistently between T20 franchise commitments and national duty across all three formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is).
Promote ODI tri-series featuring highly competitive teams to bolster fan engagement rates and avoid the risk of early dead rubber due to unbalanced series.

Fix The Boring Middle Overs Formula in ODIs

The predictable pattern of middle overs (11 to 40) frequently involves a low-risk approach and a sluggish nature of the format.

Batters opt for low-risk singles, and the bowling team captain spreads out the field placements, setting up a stage for a death-over thriller. In simpler terms, a highly defensive approach is adopted during this phase.

The reintroduction of ODI tri-series can resolve the boring phase of middle overs:

Points and Net Run Rate matter in the later stages of tri-series for survival.
Teams' playing style gets altered every 48 to 72 hours due to varied opponents, prompting tactical innovation.

Final Thoughts

Those were the golden days when spectators experienced the nail-biting moments in ODI tri-series, even though it wasn’t a World Cup final.

Most often, the surge in T20 cricket is blamed for the ODI format’s downfall. But the harsh reality is that the format has struggled with in-depth structural issues.

While nations like Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand prioritised tri-series in the ongoing FTP cycle, other full member nations should adopt this approach.

Conclusively, reintroducing ODI tri-series can help players to restore the perfect balance between Test cricket’s composed strategy and the T20 format’s aggressive approach.