Super Over,[1][2] also known as aone-over eliminator[3][4] or aone over per side eliminator,[5] is atie-breaking method used inlimited-overscricket matches. If a match ends in a "tie", it proceeds to a Super Over, in which each team plays a single additionalover of six balls to determine the winner. The team scoring the most runs in that over is declared the winner.
Following a rule change in October 2019 for knockout and bilateral series matches, if a Super Over ends in a tie, another Super Over is played.[6]
A Super Over was first used in 2008 inTwenty20 cricket, replacing thebowl-out method previously used to break a tie. The Super Over was introduced intoOne Day International (ODI) cricket at the2011 Cricket World Cup, but it was not required.
For thefollowing World Cup, a Super Over would be used only to decide the final in the event of a tie. Ties in other knockout-stage matches reverted to the previous rule, where the team with the better group-stage performance would advance. In 2017, the ICC introduced the Super Over for the knockout stages of that year'sWomen's Cricket World Cup andChampions Trophy.[7][8]
The2019 Cricket World Cup Final marked the first-ever ODI to be decided by a Super Over. After the two teams tied on runs in their Super Over,England was declared the winner overNew Zealand through the controversial boundary count-back rule, which has since been replaced with the current rules.[9]
If the teams have played a Super Over and it also ends in a tie, the original rules stated that the winner would be determined by one of the following methods:
The total number ofboundaries scored throughout the match and Super Over.
The total number of boundaries scored throughout the match, excluding the Super Over.
A boundary count-back conducted from the last ball of the Super Over.
In the boundary count-back method, if both teams had scored the same number of boundaries, the final ball of the Super Over would be ignored, and the boundary count would be reassessed. If the teams remained tied, the second-to-last ball would also be excluded, and the process would continue until one team was ahead.
Previously, if a Super Over ended in a tie, the winner was first determined by the number of boundary sixes hit by each team across both innings. If still tied, the number of sixes hit in the main match was used as the deciding factor.[11]
After the tied Super Over in the2019 Cricket World Cup Final, whichEngland won on boundary count, the ICC was criticised by many former cricketers and numerous fans for the use of such a controversial tie-breaker.[6]
In October 2019, the ICC amended the rule:
If a Super Over is tied in the group stage of a tournament, the match will be declared a tie.
In knockout matches, the Super Over will be repeated until a winner is determined.[12]
In any bilateral series match, the Super Over will also be repeated until one team wins.
Each consecutive Super Over must take place five minutes after the previous one. The team that batted second in the previous Super Over will bat first in the next. Any batter dismissed in a previous Super Over is ineligible to bat again.[13]
TheInternational Cricket Council (ICC) states the official rules for Super Overs in the Standard Twenty20 International Match Playing Conditions, which have been in effect since 1 October 2012.[14][15]
Each team selects three batters, and the team's Super Overinnings ends if two of their batters areout. The team that batted second in the main match bats first in the Super Over, while the bowling team chooses the end to bowl from. If the Super Over is tied, it is repeated until a winner is determined, although some tournaments may instead conclude the match as a tie.[12] Each consecutive Super Over must take place five minutes after the previous one. The team that batted last in the previous Super Over will bat first in the next, and any batter dismissed in a previous Super Over is ineligible to bat again.[13]
In the 2014–15 season, theBig Bash League introduced a variation of the rules, allowing each team to use all ten wickets in their Super Over innings.[16]
A Super Over is not considered part of the main match; therefore, the runs scored and wickets taken during it are not added to a player's career statistics.
Chris Gayle scored 25 runs in the first Super Over
The first-ever Super Over was used in a tiedTwenty20 match between the West Indies and New Zealand on 26 December 2008. The West Indies scored 25/1 in their Super Over, while New Zealand replied with 15/2.[17][2]
The Twenty20 match between New Zealand and the West Indies on 26 December 2008 ended in a tie after both teams completed their 20 overs.[2]
-Daniel Vettori was the "nominated bowler" for New Zealand.
- Marshall was run out without facing a ball, andShivnarine Chanderpaul similarly remained at the non-striker's end.
- Gayle hit 25 runs off the 6 balls he faced.
The West Indies scored 25/1 from six balls in their Super Over.[18]
-Sulieman Benn was the nominated bowler for the West Indies.
- New Zealand openerJacob Oram was caught on Benn's third "Super Over" delivery.
- The third man in Ross Taylor hit a six but was then clean-bowled on the next ball. Oram's "Super Over" opening partnerBrendon McCullum did not face a delivery.
New Zealand scored 15/2 (all out) from five balls in their Super Over.[18]
The Super Over is often used in the group stage of Twenty20 tournaments. Journalist Sambit Bal described this use as unnecessary outside of knockout stages, arguing that a tie is a satisfactory result for both teams and in terms of entertainment value.[19] Former New Zealand coachMike Hesson also criticised the practice after his team lost two matches by Super Overs in the Super Eight group stage of the2012 ICC World Twenty20.[20] After New Zealand's loss to England in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final via a Super Over, New Zealand coachGary Stead suggested that the ICC should have considered awarding the championship jointly to both teams rather than using a tiebreaker.[21]
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England
New Zealand
Zimbabwe
Pakistan
Netherlands
West Indies
Canada
Namibia
Oman
United States
Bangladesh
South Africa
Australia
India
Fiji
France
