Given the prevalence and popularity of one day cricket now, it may come as something of a surprise that the first ODI was not played until 1970/71, and that the initial contest between Australia and England came about almost by accident.
National-level one-day competitions began in England in 1963, and the Gillette Cup soon proved to be a success both with the pubic and sponsors. But there was less enthusiasm in other parts of the world for the idea.
Australia launched its own domestic event in 1969/70. It caught the public imagination, but it would be a further decade before Indian subcontinent would begin to dabble with the concept.
However, when England arrived on Australian shores for the Ashes series of 1970/71, there was no ODI planned. Instead, spectators were promised a very long summer of Test cricket, featuring six matches.
However, the promise proved to be much greater than the reality as the first two Test matches, in Brisbane and Perth, proved to be ‘bore draws’ as the two captains, Bill Lawry, and Ray Illingworth, both driven by caution and an unwillingness to take risks.
The sides headed to Melbourne for the third Test match, but instead of sunshine and clear skies, it began rain and the thermometer plummeted.
The first two days were called off well in advance. A proposal that they could start on a Sunday to make up for lost time was rejected by the boards of both countries, who argued that it would set a dangerous precedent!
However, it was felt that the public, many of whom had bought tickets, deserved to watch some cricket. The organisers decided to stage a match that followed similar principles to the Gillette Cup which had proved to be a success in England.
And a Test match was added to the tour, making it the only series till date to featuring seven tests between the sides.
Rothmans agreed to sponsor the match at the last minute, but few expected many people to show up. Stadium organisers told the caterers they could expect a crowd of 20,000, but in the event, than 46,000 turned up.
The format consisted of eight ball 40 overs a side. England made 190, but were bowled out with two balls to spare, and Australia cruised to victory with 42 balls still to be bowled, to the delight to much of the paying spectators.
What had started out as a one-off became a trend that was to grow and grow, although few could have forecast it at the time.