After World Cup furore, ICC scraps boundary count rule

In the 2019 World Cup final, England’s tally of more boundaries than New Zealand in the match helped the hosts win the title for the first time in its history.

The contentious boundary count rule that resulted in England winning the 2019 World Cup despite the final against New Zealand ending in a tie has been scrapped by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and will no longer be used at future ICC events.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Martin Guptill of New Zealand reacts as he is run out on the final ball of the Super Over by Jos Buttler of England during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)(Getty Images)

The ICC’s Chief Executive Committee on Monday however agreed that the use of a Super Over as a way to decide results at ICC events will be retained. “Both the Cricket Committee and CEC 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,” an ICC release said.

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“In group stages, if the Super Over is tied, the match will be tied. In Semi Finals and Finals, there is one change to the Super Over regulation in keeping with the basic principle of scoring more runs than the opponent to win, the Super Over will be repeated until one team has more runs than the other.”

In the 2019 World Cup final, widely rated since as the greatest to have ever decided the tournament in its history, England managed to tie the target of 242 that was set for them by New Zealand. The Super Over also ended in a tie but England’s tally of 22 boundaries against New Zealand’s 17 throughout the tournament helped the hosts win the title for the first time in its history.