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Graeme Swann
Swann may well be the third best ODI bowler in the world, but he has revealed his desire to see the 50-over format move over or at least be reduced, saying that it is the least enjoyable format to play in.
Swann explained: “I think one-day cricket will have to give at some point, hopefully for everyone. I don't think that game should carry on for much longer.”
“For me it's not as enjoyable to play in. I think Test cricket and Twenty20 are the way forward for cricket.”
The 32-year-old – who was a distant figure for much of the recent 5-0 ODI defeat in India – says that if the 50-over format was no more, it would free up the calendar for longer test series.
He continued: “We do play too much cricket and if something had to give my choice would be 50-over cricket, or make it 40-over cricket or something”.
“But that's a purely personal choice. I don't think many people agree with me. I think I will finish before any changes take place so I will carry on playing whatever they put in front of me.”
Unfortunately for Swann, 50-over cricket is set to remain in its current format for many years to come as it is still makes money for the ICC and is popular in many parts of the world.
To highlight this, the potential World Test Championship – which was set to take place in 2013 – was recently postponed to make way for the lucrative 50-over Champions Trophy, something which Swann finds frustrating.
He continued: “This is frustrating because being English we rate Test cricket above and beyond anything else, and certainly the Champions Trophy. It is a bit disturbing and short-sighted in my view but I'm not the powers that be.”
Swann will return to the test arena – his favourite form of the game – in the New Year though as England take on Pakistan in Abu Dhabi for three matches. There are then test series against Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa to come in 2012.
Focus will be on Pakistan first though with England set to fly out to Abu Dhabi in the first week of January to prepare for the first math on the 17th. Perhaps they will play some texas hold em to pass the time on the plane and in-between tests!
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