The ECB’s Richard Gould has indicated that triangular series could return to the international calendar, with plans said to be taking shape over the next 12 to 18 months. The talk follows India ODI captain Shubman Gill’s public support for bringing back three- and four-team tournaments to make the 50-over game feel fresher and more meaningful.
Reports suggest the ECB is one of the boards in favour of reviving the format. No fixtures or participating teams have been made public so far, so the idea remains at an early stage.
Gill defends the 50-over format
Gill recently came out strongly for keeping ODIs at 50 overs, dismissing the idea of cutting matches to 40. He said the 50-over World Cup is the one that comes to mind first and, in his view, the most prestigious of all, adding that it should not be altered.
He also spoke about how much the format shaped his childhood. He said he grew up watching plenty of 50-over cricket, and he particularly remembered the triangular series involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka, which he described as great fun to follow.
Multi-team events instead of bilateral series
Rather than shortening games, Gill believes the answer lies in the way fixtures are arranged. The India captain proposed swapping some bilateral ODI series for tournaments featuring three or four sides. In his view, that would produce more competitive contests and give supporters a livelier calendar.
Gould’s remarks about tri-series arriving within the next year to 18 months could be a first step towards that happening. For now, though, teams, venues and dates are all unconfirmed, and further announcements will be needed before any plan can be treated as settled.
