A successful ICC Champions Trophy has proved that the 50-over format still has its takers in the world of cricket.

By Firdose Moonda

How ready the pundits were to bury the one day game alive like feudal fundamentalists do to their misbehaving woman. Pyjama cricket hasn't toed the line of late and many thought it deserved to be punished. Dreary middle overs were its biggest crime and one sided contests an accomplice. The pit was dug, the shovels were ready and a callous and ghastly death awaited the once loved form of the game.

Then, along came the ICC Champions Trophy, making a strong case for why there is breathing room for this rogue form of the game yet. This is what it taught us:

1. Multi team tournaments must have a compact format
Eight teams allowed the tournament to have just two groups and a first round that saw each team only play three matches. The elimination of a super eight round, which gets played in the World Cup, meant that more group stage matches were knock outs and most games mattered. Daniel Vettori said that "the reason people are probably getting tired of one-day cricket is because there's a lot of irrelevant games and that hasn't happened in this tournament at all."

2. They should be played in the shortest time period
14 days, 15 matches meant there was a contest every day - although this competition did have two rest days and two matches played on some days. Teams had little time between matches which for Grant Elliott was a major plus. "In a five-match series, we are often waiting a few days before we play again, but with this tournament, we've been kept on our toes because we are playing almost every second day. It helps to keep momentum and excitement going." The one drawback might be higher risk of injuries fatigue to the teams, as Vettoi explained that "most teams prefer two days between matches."

3. Venues, which are as close to each other as possible
Mickey Arthur said before the tournament that playing at Centurion and the Wanderers would be an advantage because "of the proximity of the venues which means less disruption in terms of travelling." It makes sense that if the tournament is to be made more compact it should be played at two venues in the same or nearby cities for logistical ease.

4. Ensure that the conditions are different
That's not to say that conditions can't vary. Centurion started off being compared to a sub-continental wicket and then became a sublime batting deck, for the semi-finals and final. Ricky Ponting said that the last two matches were played on the "best wickets of the tournament by far."
The constantly changing conditions also provide a fairer outcome, as Ponting explained. "We've played on different conditions at both venues and even in different conditions at this ground," referring to Centurion. "The team prides itself on being able to adapt to different conditions." Australia were hailed the only team to record comprehensive wins at both the venues and in all the conditions.

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5. Lively pitches don't hurt
The Wanderers green top was a cause for much concern in the opening stages of the tournament, but it allowed for some magnificent bowling. The West Indies' Kemar Roach and David Bernard showed that when they had Australia struggling at 164 for six in their match as Shane Bond and Kyle Mills ripped England apart during their group match, which saw England all out for 146. The notion that only high scoring matches generate interest has been unproven and was again throughout the tournament.

6. Maybe the powerplays need a rethink
If there were no fielding restrictions, the semi-final between Pakistan and New Zealand may have had a different result. The appeal of that match was built around the Pakistani bowlers creating pressure and the run rate steadily rising for New Zealand. Up until the batting powerplay was taken, most were intrigued by the fair contest between bat and ball. Then, the constraints had to be applied and the contest fell apart. Younus Khan even admitted that there was "where the game was lost."
Some will argue that if there was no powerplay, New Zealand would have batted with more aggression from the get go. There are numerous ifs and buts. But the point is that if one day cricket loses its gimmicks and becomes more of an even-handed contest between bowler and batsman; it's likely to have more appeal.

7. And lastly, Australia are still the best in the world
Rahul Dravid said it before the first match, "Australia are the favourites, they have been dominating world cricket for the last few years." South Africa tried to deny it with Dale Steyn famously saying "no one will match us in this tournament." Everyone else was so focused on India, Pakistan and South Africa that they forgot that the powerhouses of world cricket were lurking in the background.
Australia have gone from losing a wealth of experienced players to successfully integrating newer players all the while, holding both the World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Ponting lauded the team's achievement, "When the so-called big names don't stand up, others get up and do the job. The young guys are starting to make major impacts in world events," he said.