Dileep Premachandran, in his blog in the Guardian, says ODI cricket generally lacks in importance, barring the World Cup, and discusses ways in which the format could be made more relevant.
Very few players will admit it on record, but one-day games outside of the World Cup scarcely get the blood pumping. That's not to say they don't take them seriously. It's just not that important. No one will retire and then lament the absence of a Singer/Natwest/Pepsi Series medal from the trophy cabinet. I'm sure Sunil Gavaskar regrets not being able to win a Test match in Pakistan. I doubt very much, though, if he loses sleep over the tri-series that India lost in Australia in 1985-86.
