Greatest ODI match of all-time

* West Indies beat Australia by 17 runs at Lord's, 21 June 1975

* India beat West Indies by 43 runs at Lord's, 25 June 1983

* Pakistan beat India won by one-wicket at Sharjah, 18 April 1986

* England won by three wickets against Australia at Sydney, 22 January 1987

* Australia won by one-wicket against West Indies at Sydney, 12 January 1996

* Australia tied with South Africa at Edgbaston, 17 June 1999

* Pakistan tied with Sri Lanka, at Sharjah, 15 October 1999

* India beat Pakistan by five runs at Karachi, 13 March 2004

* Bangladesh beat Australia by five wickets at Cardiff, 18 June 2005

* South Africa beat Australia by one-wicket at Johannesburg, 12 March 2006

The first ever ODI was played between Australia and England on 5 January 1971 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Cricket Australia will also mark the 40th anniversary of ODI cricket with a number of events, including a cocktail reception with members of Australia's first ODI team at Victoria's Government House, during Melbourne's Cricket Weekend - which also includes a Twenty20 International - from 14-16 January.

The Australian ODI team from 1971 will also be presented to the crowd during the innings break of the first ODI match of the series between Australia and England at the MCG on Sunday 16 January.

The 40th anniversary of the ODI is being marked in the build-up to cricket's flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February. As with all nine previous editions of the tournament, fans around the globe will no doubt be treated to amazing feats of individual and team brilliance that will live long in the memory.

Marsh recalls the birth of ODI cricket

With the 40th anniversary of ODI cricket approaching, former Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh recalls that he played the first-ever One-Day International played on 5 January, 1971 without a sense of being a part of history.

The first-ever One-Day International was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and was staged because rain had washed out a Test between England and Australia.

Australia won the game by five wickets and Marsh played a part by claiming the catch of the great Colin Cowdrey.

The first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975 just added to the popularity of the format with Australia and West Indies playing out a classic title round clash.

But Marsh believes that the format really took off after the advent of World Series Cricket (WSC) in 1978.

"From a playing perspective I don't think it became much sought after throughout my career. The public probably got to know it well after the first World Cup but it really took off during and after WSC," reckoned Marsh.

The format now is immensely popular with the crowds turning up in huge numbers to watch every game. Marsh believes this has been only good for the game.

"At times the crowds have been unbelievable which is good for the entire game," added Marsh.

Marsh believes all this has helped in the growth of the format.

"Teams will always try something new for example Sri Lanka blasting away in the first 15 overs (in ICC Cricket World Cup 1996) changed the way the game was played. Power plays being introduced for a few periods of play, run a ball cricket has helped too. In general one-day cricket can be credited with improving fielding standards and running between the wickets," said Marsh.

The former Australia wicketkeeper picked South Africa’s mammoth chase of Australia’s score of 434 in 2005-06 at Johannesburg as the best ODI game of all time.

But Marsh found it difficult to pick his all time great ODI team. "All I know is Adam Gilchrist would be in my side," concluded Marsh.