Difference Between Test Cricket and ODI

Test Cricket vs ODI
 

If you are from a commonwealth country, you most probably knows a lot about the game of cricket and its different formats (Test Cricket, ODI, 20-20 etc). The people of countries where Britain ruled and were a part of the British Empire love this game which is also known as gentleman’s game. For almost a century after the first Test match was played between England and Australian teams in 1877, there was only test cricket that was played between teams of countries that were qualified to play the game at this level. ODI is a later form of cricket that is very popular and played by the very countries that play test cricket. Though the game remains the same, there are many differences in rules, which will be made clear in this article.

Test Cricket

This is the original format of cricket that started with the first test played between England and Australia in 1877 and continues till date. There are 11 players in competing teams that play the game in white uniforms. The game is held over a period of 5 days and starts at 9 AM local time till 5 in the evening. There is a toss between opposing captains, and that decides which team will bat or bowl first. Two players from the batting team arrive on the field wearing gloves, pads and helmets to safeguard themselves. Bowling team is allowed to bowl 90 overs of 6 balls each in the day’s game, and the batsmen can score by hitting the ball in different areas of the stadium and running between the wickets. Batsmen also get out through different means such as bowled, LBW, caught, run out etc which calls for next batsman on the crease.

When all players of the batting team (10) get out (with 11th player remaining not out), it is the turn of the bowling team to bat. This team now tries to outscore the batting team through its batsmen and scores more or less than the previous team in its innings. The procedure is repeated as each team gets two innings to bat as well as bowl. The scores in both innings are added, and the winner is the team that scores more runs in its two innings. A match is declared drawn when either team cannot get all 20 wickets of the opposing team in the stipulated time (5 days).

ODI

One Day International, or ODI, is a shortened version of the game of cricket as each team gets just one innings to bat instead of two with 50 overs of bowling allowed to a team. Winner of the match is the team that scores more runs in its quota of 50 overs. There are occasions when a team is not able to play for 50 overs and gets out before these 50 overs. The opposing team gets full 50 overs to score the runs scored by the opponent in this case. ODI is played with players in colored uniforms. With the game restricted to a single day, ODI’s have become very popular in countries where test cricket has been traditionally played.