DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced changes to the Super Over regulations, ending the use of boundary countback to decide knockout games following England’s victory over New Zealand in the men’s World Cup final.
England won the World Cup for the first time in July after an unprecedented finish to the final at Lord’s. The hosts triumphed by virtue of hitting more boundaries after the scores were level following the Super Over.
Following its board meetings on Monday, the ICC said that it had changed regulations to scrap the boundary count to decide a winner if teams were tied after a Super Over in a final.
Under the new rules, if teams are tied on the same number of runs in the semi-final or final of a global tournament, the Super Over will be repeated until one team wins.
An ICC statement said the change was “in keeping with the basic principle of scoring more runs than the opponent to win.”
“Following on from a recommendation from the ICC Cricket Committee, the Chief Executives’ Committee agreed that use of the Super Over as a way to decide results at ICC events will be retained,” the ICC said.
“Both… agreed it was an exciting and engaging conclusion to the game and will remain in place covering all games at both ODI and T20I World Cups.
“In group stages, if the Super Over is tied the match will be tied. In semi-finals and finals… the Super Over will be repeated until one team has more runs than the other.”
The Super Over, endorsed by cricket chiefs as an “exciting and engaging conclusion” to matches, will also be applied to every game in both the 20-over and 50-over World Cups.
It was previously only used during the knockout stages. Group stage matches that are tied after a Super Over will be recorded as a tie.
The new rules will be in place in time for the men’s and women’s T20 World Cups held in Australia next year.
Other decisions included increasing the prize money for ICC women’s events by $2.6 million following a rise in the revenue generated by the sport.
As a result, the winners and runners-up of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia next year will receive $1 million and $500,000, respectively.
