The ICC (International Cricket Council) has changed the controversial Super Over rule that caused such a dramatic conclusion to this year’s World Cup final between England and New Zealand, at Lords in July.
That match had gone to a super over after both sides scored 241 in their regulation innings, the first time that this had occurred in a match of that magnitude.
Batting first in the Super Over, the English pair of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler managed to score 15 off the six deliveries which they faced, which Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill then matched for the Kiwis.
However, because England had scored more boundaries in the match, they were declared the winners. The decision was widely acclaimed by jubilant English fans, but heavily criticised by supporters of other countries – not just from New Zealand! – and by former players.
Now, in their meeting in Dubai on Monday, the ICC have now amended the regulation in the event of a tie. Now, if the scores, in a World Cup semi-final or final, are still level after the conclusion of the Super Over, then the Super Over will be repeated, until such time as there is a clear winner.
The Super Over format will also be used in the group stages, but with one difference. There, if the scores are still tied after a Super Over has been bowled, then the match will be declared a tie.
The new rule will apply to both the ODI and T20I World Cups.
Nevertheless, the ICC still backs the concept of the Super Over declaring it to be an “”an exciting and engaging conclusion to the game”.
Another outcome to the meeting in Dubai was an increase in prize money for ICC women’s events. The winners and runners-up at the Women’s T2) World Cup in Australia will now receive $1m (£795,000) and $500,000 (£397,900) respectively – that represents a five-fold increase over what was on offer in 2018. And, for the Women’s World Cup in 2021, the amount of prize money will increase to $3.5m (£2.78m) from the $2m (£1.59m) available the last time the competition was played in England in 2017.
The Board at their meeting also approved the introduction, for the first time, of an Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Bangladesh will host the tournament for the first time in 021, and it will be played every two years thereafter, with alternating countries staging it.
