London, UK –Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has openly criticized the current rules of ODI cricket, stating that the format has lost its appeal outside major tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Champions Trophy. According to Moeen, rule changes—particularly the powerplay fielding restrictions and the two-ball rule—have made the format excessively batting-friendly, reducing the challenge for bowlers and diminishing the excitement of the game.
Moeen Ali Slams ODI Rule Changes
During an interview with Talksport Cricket, as reported by Wisden, Moeen Ali expressed his concerns over ODI cricket’s declining relevance. England’s recent struggles in the format have only reinforced his point—after a disastrous ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign where they managed just three wins in nine matches, their performance in the Champions Trophy qualifiers also ended without a single victory in three games.
“The format has almost completely died out, apart from World Cups and the Champions Trophy. It is the worst format to play, and I think there are many reasons for that,” Moeen stated.
Powerplay Rules Favor Batters, Says Moeen
One of Moeen’s biggest criticisms is the rule that mandates only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle after the initial powerplay, a change implemented in 2012. He believes this alteration has significantly reduced bowlers’ ability to build pressure.
“The rules are terrible. That extra fielder inside the circle makes it much harder to take wickets and apply pressure. Batters now average 60 or 70 in ODIs because of this. If a bowler tries to create some pressure, batters can just reverse-sweep for a boundary instead of taking a single,” Moeen explained.
Two New Balls Have Killed Reverse Swing
Moeen also pointed out that the use of two balls from each end—a rule introduced in the early 2010s—has eliminated reverse swing, making it even easier for batters to dominate.
“With two new balls, you lose reverse swing, and you also lose the skill of batting against a softer ball. Everything stays hard and fresh, making it easier for batters to time their shots. That’s why 50-over cricket has died,” Moeen added.
T20 & Franchise Cricket Threaten ODI Survival
Moeen also highlighted the impact of franchise cricket on ODI cricket, stating that the lucrative contracts offered by T20 leagues are luring players away from international cricket.
“The problem is the money in franchise cricket. It’s so much that players find it difficult to turn down. In the coming years, we will see many cricketers retiring early from international cricket just to focus on T20 leagues,” he remarked.
Moeen Ali’s Career & IPL 2025 Stint
A 2019 World Cup winner, Moeen Ali played 138 ODIs for England, scoring 2,355 runs at an average of 24+ while also claiming 111 wickets. In the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, he will be playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions.
