‘Worst format to play’: Moeen Ali says ODI format is almost completely died out and ‘rules are terrible’

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current state of One-Day International (ODI) cricket, labeling it the “worst format” due to rules that heavily favor batsmen. Ali, who retired from international cricket last year, believes that these rules have contributed significantly to the decline of the 50-over format.

“The format has almost completely died out, apart from World Cups and Champions Trophy. It is the worst format to play and I think there are many reasons for that,” Moeen told Talksport Cricket.

Moeen, who played 138 ODIs for England, pointed out that changes in fielding restrictions have made batting easier.

Previously, five fielders were allowed outside the circle after the first power play, but this has been reduced to four, making it harder for bowlers to apply pressure. Additionally, the use of two new balls in ODIs eliminates the possibility of reverse swing, which was a crucial aspect of the game. This, combined with the increased ease of scoring, has led to high batting averages and a lack of challenge for bowlers.

“I think the rules are terrible. To have that extra fielder after (the first powerplay), I think it’s a horrendous rule for taking wickets, building any sort of pressure. Guys are averaging 60, 70 in ODI cricket now because of that.

“When you’re bowling at somebody and you put a little bit of pressure, he just reverse-sweeps and it’s not even a single, it’s a four. It’s just there’s always that option available for the batters (to score).” Using two new balls also mean lack of reverse swing.

“On top of all this, you have two new balls, you lose the reverse swing, you lose the art of trying to hit a softer ball.

“Everything’s always in the middle and crisp and it’s flying off your bat and stuff. I think for those reasons, the cricket’s just died. 50-over cricket has died,” Moeen continued.

Ali also noted that the lucrative nature of T20 leagues is drawing players away from international cricket. The financial incentives are so significant that many cricketers are opting to retire early from international duties to focus on franchise cricket. This trend, he believes, further threatens the viability of the ODI format.

Moeen’s comments come at a time when the ODI format is facing challenges, including declining interest and sparse crowds at recent tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament has raised questions about the future of ODI cricket, with many suggesting that it may be losing relevance in the face of more popular formats like T20.