Happy 50th Birthday ODI Cricket

[sherb]

The first ever ODI was played in Melbourne on the 5th January, 1971, after the Melbourne Test was called off due to three days of rain.

The match was 40 x 8 ball overs per side, with Australia winning quite comfortably in the end by 5 wickets with more than 5 overs to spare.

John Edrich hit the top score of the match, 82 - so he hit the first ODI half-century (as well as the first boundary). He sadly recently passed away.

The first wicket to fall was Sir Geoffrey Boycott - hooking believe it or not - to Alan "Froggy" Thomson (who later went on to become a VFL umpire).

Off the top of my head, I think all the Australian players are still with us and 4 (John Edrich, Colin Cowdrey, John Hampshire & Basil D'Oliveira) English players have passed.

First ODI - YouTube

First ODI - Scorecard

 

[Pippen94]

At the time odi's were going to be death of cricket

 

[sherb]

At the time odi's were going to be death of cricket

Well, not when the first one occurred........

 

[mouncey2franklin]

Crazy for me to think that I've been around for two thirds of ODI's existence.

As a kid, ODIs seemed so normal.

In fact they are what got me into the game, watching ODIs, then Tests, then I started playing for the local team, it all went from there.

Cool threads, cheers sherb

 

[sherb]

Crazy for me to think that I've been around for two third of ODI's existence.

As a kid, ODIs seemed so normal.

In fact they are what got me into the game, watching ODIs, then Tests, then I started playing for local team, it all went from there.

Cool threads, cheers sherb

Mate, I've been around for all of ODI's existence!!

I actually remember the first one (I probably watched it on TV, that I can't recall).

 

[STFU Donnie]

Enjoy:

 

[masai]

At the time odi's were going to be death of cricket

Thanks to Ian Chappell & Bill Lawrence standing up to the Australian Cricket Board, ......................... err the Don.

The ACB wanted the teams to play for no extra pay.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Thanks to Ian Chappell & Bill Lawrence standing up to the Australian Cricket Board, ......................... err the Don.

The ACB wanted the teams to play for no extra pay.

Bill Lawry.

And the Board got its way; the abandoned test was rescheduled. Thus, 1970-71 remains the only official 7-test series.

 

[masai]

Bill Lawry.

And the Board got its way; the abandoned test was rescheduled. Thus, 1970-71 remains the only official 7-test series.

Bloody auto correct, yes it was the pigeon fancier, Bill Lawry.

 

[RohitSharma]

Thanks guys, I will be remembered as the Bradman of ODI cricket

 

[sherb]

This one-day match was played nearly 4 years before the first ODI.

It was played 4th March, 1967 as the final match on Australia's 66-67 tour of South Africa.

The two sides seem pretty solid, you could certainly make an argument for this match being the first ODI.

South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg (50 over match), 4 Mar 1967

static.espncricinfo.com

 

[010203]

This one-day match was played nearly 4 years before the first ODI.

It was played 4th March, 1967 as the final match on Australia's 66-67 tour of South Africa.

The two sides seem pretty solid, you could certainly make an argument for this match being the first ODI.

South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg (50 over match), 4 Mar 1967

static.espncricinfo.com

Funny how for a long time in 50 over cricket teams would struggle to score more than 300. Yet in this 50 over match, both sides scored more than 300.

 

[ioppolo]

I'm assuming that's eight ball overs. Still, 323 off 400 balls is still decent.

 

[sherb]

I'm assuming that's eight ball overs. Still, 323 off 400 balls is still decent.

They were six ball overs.

A History of Balls to an Over in First-Class Cricket – The ACS

acscricket.com

 

[Rabish Binney]

This one-day match was played nearly 4 years before the first ODI.

It was played 4th March, 1967 as the final match on Australia's 66-67 tour of South Africa.

The two sides seem pretty solid, you could certainly make an argument for this match being the first ODI.

South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg (50 over match), 4 Mar 1967

static.espncricinfo.com

Ironic you post this Sherb.

Australia's 4,5, & 6 batsman have all recently passed....

 

[Rabish Binney]

This one-day match was played nearly 4 years before the first ODI.

It was played 4th March, 1967 as the final match on Australia's 66-67 tour of South Africa.

The two sides seem pretty solid, you could certainly make an argument for this match being the first ODI.

South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg (50 over match), 4 Mar 1967

static.espncricinfo.com

My old man said that Graeme Pollock was by far the best batsmen he had ever seen in 60 years of watching (and loving) test cricket.

One could mount a case for the South Africans of the late 60's / early 70's to be amongst the best test sides ever if they were allowed to play

 

[Gough]

My old man said that Graeme Pollock was by far the best batsmen he had ever seen in 60 years of watching (and loving) test cricket.

One could mount a case for the South Africans of the late 60's / early 70's to be amongst the best test sides ever if they were allowed to play

My old man talks about Pollock that way too, the other one of that pre isolation era he still raves about is Colin Bland and his fielding.

 

[Rabish Binney]

My old man talks about Pollock that way too, the other one of that pre isolation era he still raves about is Colin Bland and his fielding.

Another one who missed out was Clive Rice

Had an unbelievable record as a 1st class player...

 

[Gough]

Another one who missed out was Clive Rice

Had an unbelievable record as a 1st class player...

Barry Richards too and it hurt him for a long time. When you asked county players in the 70s who was the best they played against when they answered Richards they didn't mean Viv.

 

[sherb]

Ironic you post this Sherb.

Australia's 4,5, & 6 batsman have all recently passed....

Yeah, very sad.

Australia's #11 in that team passed in April too.

Vale David Renneberg (1942 – 2025) | Cricket NSW

Live cricket coverage, live streaming, cricket highlights, live scores, breaking news, video, analysis and expert opinion.

www.cricketnsw.com.au

 

[Rabish Binney]

Yeah, very sad.

Australia's #11 in that team passed in April too.

Vale David Renneberg (1942 – 2025) | Cricket NSW

Live cricket coverage, live streaming, cricket highlights, live scores, breaking news, video, analysis and expert opinion.

www.cricketnsw.com.au

Didn't know that....

 

[cricketnut14]

Yeah, very sad.

Australia's #11 in that team passed in April too.

Vale David Renneberg (1942 – 2025) | Cricket NSW

Live cricket coverage, live streaming, cricket highlights, live scores, breaking news, video, analysis and expert opinion.

www.cricketnsw.com.au

he also bowled 11 overs in the 50 over match !

mckenzie was also into his 11th over as the game finished.