The World cup is over.

After 6 long weeks the world cup reached it's conclusion with a match worthy of the occasion. For the record home team and hot favorites India won against Sri Lanka.

Before the start of the tournament there was speculation in many parts that the 50 over format was on it's last legs. The general school of thought being that the public interest and more overly the sponsorship friendly 20/20 format would see the demise of 50 over cricket. The world cup has breathed new life into ODI's. Admittedly the tournament was far too long with too many meaningless games. But once the inevitable 8 teams had progressed to the quarter finals the competition became genuinely compelling viewing.

20/20 is a good thing for cricket in general. It's a bite sized, snap shot of the game. It bring's legions of potential new fans to the sport. Fast, furious and family friendly by it's very nature, the importance of the impact it has made can not be over looked. I see it very much as a beginners guide to cricket. A good introduction level, which from a supporters perspective involves little emotional out put and is easily forgettable. The matches don't really contain the skill levels of the longer versions of the game but have conversely progressed 50 over and to a lesser extent test matches.

Where as 20/20 is just a snap shot 50 over cricket is like a soap opera. 8hrs of entertainment with 22 players taking part in a spectacle which the crowd can really get their teeth into. The plot, at a good contest involves several twists and turns. The power basis can shift on an over by over basis as is the nature of the game. Unlike test matches which during 5 day's of play, generally contain 2 or 3 periods of genuine excitement over an elongated timescale.

The purists and true fan's, like myself, will tell you that test matches are the true measure of a players skill's. concentration, stamina and will to win. But for pure drama 50 over cricket is where it's at. On that basis alone 50 over cricket is here to stay and I for one am very pleased and greatly reassured by that.