On 5 January 1971, cricket changed forever—but not by design.
3rd test of the 1970/71 Ashes series was due to be played from 31 December 1970 to 5 January 1971. Even though the match didn’t start due to rain, on the last day, over 46,000 spectators showed up at MCG.
The officials from the 2 Cricket boards and match officials decided to have an one-off limited over match instead of calling the day completely off. A new format match; 40 overs per side.
It was never meant to be historic.
But what followed became the first-ever One Day International.
A Match That Was Never Supposed to Happen
At the time, it was simply an experiment—shorter, faster, and unfamiliar. No one knew it would lay the foundation for an entirely new format at the highest level of the game.
England Set a Target—But Was It Enough?
England batted first and managed to score 190 runs in 39.4 overs in an unfamiliar format. It wasn’t a dominant total, but the scoring rate was a slightly better than of a test match.
In the process, John Edrich scored the first ever ODI half century; 82 off 119 balls.
8 Ball Overs
England innings’ run rate was 4.81. But, at the time 8-ball overs were used. If we convert the run rate to 6-ball overs, it would be just 3.6.
Australia Make the Chase Look Easy
Australia approached the target with calm and control, reaching 191/5 in just 34.6 overs.
The chase was anchored by Ian Chappell, who scored a composed 60 runs. His innings provided stability while Doug Walters controlled the scoring rate with a 51-ball 41.
Rather than a tense finish, it was a clinical performance—one that made the new format look both practical and exciting.
Why This Match Changed Cricket Forever
At the time, this match was just a solution to a scheduling problem.
But it proved something important: Cricket could work in a shorter, result-driven format rather than the 6 day format at the time.
That single game opened the door to:
- One Day Internationals
- Cricket World Cups
- Day-night matches
- A faster, more accessible version of the sport
What started as an experiment quickly became a global phenomenon.
Final Result
Australia defeated England by 5 wickets, chasing down 191 with ease.
A straightforward result—but one that marked the beginning of a new era.
Final Thoughts
The first ODI wasn’t planned, promoted, or expected to matter.
But it showed what cricket could become.
Every limited-overs match played today—from World Cups to modern ODIs—traces back to that single day in 1971, when the game tried something new and never looked back.
Match Scorecard
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ODI #1 – Match Scorecard
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📍 Match: Australia vs England
📅 Date: 5 January 1971
🏟 Venue: MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground)
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England – 190 (39.4 overs)
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Batting:
- John Edrich – 82 (119)
- Alan Knott – 24 (31)
- Basil D’Oliveira – 17 (16)
Bowling:
- Ashley Mallett – 3/34
- Keith Stackpole – 3/40
- Alan Thomson – 1/22
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Australia – 191/5 (34.6 overs)
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Batting:
- Ian Chappell – 60 (103)
- Doug Walters – 41 (51)
- Bill Lawry – 27 (49)
Bowling:
- Ray Illingworth – 3/50
- Ken Shuttleworth – 1/29
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🏆 Australia won by 5 wickets
⭐ Player of the Match: John Edrich (Eng)
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