Fifty-over cricket comes roaring back

Written off as the dying parent of Twenty20 cricket, the 50-over one day international has received an almighty push back towards relevance over the course of three hectic weeks on the Indian subcontinent.

Australian batsman Mike Hussey went as far to say that the crowds he witnessed across the tourists' brave 4-2 series win, which ended in soggy circumstances when the final match in Mumbai was washed out without a ball being bowled, were the best he had played before.

"I reckon there's a huge future for 50-over games. It still caters for so many different types of players," Hussey said.

"The crowds here have been the best I've ever played in front of - the most noise, the most atmosphere I've ever been involved in.

"So it's been a wonderful series from the spectators' point of view as well."

In Australia enthusiasm for the series has been high, with Ricky Ponting remarking about the number of text messages he received after the epic encounter in Hyderabad where Sachin Tendulkar's 175 took India to within three runs of an imposing 4-350.

While Shane Warne is intent on pushing ever more firmly for the virtues of T20, Hussey argued that the longer format was more recognisable as a game of cricket, with room for cut and thrust, and even a spot of gamesmanship.

"I just enjoy the game. There's still a lot of room in 50-over cricket for different types of players: dashers, guys who can rebuild the innings, workers and good runners between the wickets, different types of bowlers," he said.

"There's still room for a lot of tactics and mind-games as well, so I enjoy all those different skill-sets coming out in different players.

"That's why I think 50-over cricket will still be very popular around the world.

"And just the last two tournaments I've been involved in, the quality of cricket has been outstanding, really outstanding, and I don't think the community out there can really deny that.

"The standard of cricket is really high, so I think while we've got a really good product then I think people will still come out and enjoy it."