One Day International (ODI) cricket is one of the most influential formats in the modern game, bridging the gap between the long traditions of Test cricket and the fast-paced entertainment of Twenty20. At the 1x Bet platform, punters can also enjoy great bets on this format of the sport too.
Its history reflects cricket’s ongoing effort to adapt to 3 changing aspects:
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audiences;
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commercial realities;
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and evolving styles of play.
The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ironically, the match was arranged almost as an afterthought: rain had washed out the first three days of a scheduled Test match. For that reason, officials organized a one-day, 40-over-per-side game to give spectators some cricket. What began as a makeshift solution quickly revealed its potential as an exciting, spectator-friendly alternative to Tests. Test cricket is of course still relevant, and at 1x Bet you can also bet on it.
The true expansion of ODI cricket came with the first Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1975, held in England. Matches were played in traditional white clothing with red balls, but the tournament’s success demonstrated that limited-overs cricket could attract large crowds and global attention. The West Indies, led by Clive Lloyd, dominated the early World Cups, winning in 1975 and 1979, and helping to establish ODI cricket as a serious, competitive format.
A big transformation
A major transformation occurred in the late 1970s and 1980s with Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in Australia. Making a 1xBet registration will also allow you to bet on Australian cricket too.
Innovations such as colored clothing, white balls, night matches under floodlights, and more aggressive marketing reshaped how ODI cricket was presented. Many of these changes were later adopted by official international cricket, making ODIs more television-friendly and commercially viable. Many ODI matches will also be available to bet once you complete your registration at 1xBet too.
In the 2000s and 2010s, ODI cricket reached new statistical heights. The introduction of two new balls, flatter pitches, and advanced batting techniques led to record-breaking totals and individual performances. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, AB de Villiers, and Virat Kohli became global icons through their achievements in ODIs.
Although the rise of T20 cricket has challenged ODI cricket’s popularity, the format remains central to the international game. World Cups, continental tournaments, and bilateral series continue to give ODIs a unique place in cricket, combining strategy, endurance, and entertainment in a single day’s match.