Tied Matches in Cricket: Every Tie in Test, ODI and T20 History

A tied match in cricket is among the rarest results in sport. In Test cricket, where five days of play produce just two tied results across over 2,500 matches played, a tie requires an extraordinary alignment of skill, run-scoring, wicket-taking and drama across four innings spanning multiple days. In ODIs and T20s, ties occur more frequently but are still relatively uncommon — and since the introduction of super overs as a tiebreaker, the consequences of an ODI tie have changed significantly. The tied matches that cricket has produced are among the most dramatic moments in the sport's history.

The Two Tied Tests

Only two Test matches in over 2,500 played have ended in a tie — both are discussed in detail in separate articles. The first was Brisbane 1960, Australia versus West Indies, where Joe Solomon's direct-hit run-out off the penultimate ball of the match produced a tie. The second was Chennai 1986, India versus Australia, where Greg Matthews took the final wicket of the match off the last possible ball. Dean Jones played an extraordinary innings of 210 in 40-degree heat for Australia in that match. Both ties required a sequence of near-impossible events to produce the result.

The probability of a Test match ending in a tie is extremely low. Both teams must score exactly the same runs across their respective two innings, all ten wickets must fall in the fourth innings, and this must happen in the context of five days of variable conditions, pitch deterioration and changing match situations. The statistical rarity makes each tied Test a generational event in cricket history.

ODI Ties and the Super Over Era

ODI ties have occurred more frequently. Some of the most famous include the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's — one of the most dramatic finishes in cricket history. Both teams finished on 241 after 50 overs. The super over was played and both teams scored 15. England won on boundary countback — having scored more boundaries during the 50-over match. The result was controversial but produced one of sport's most extraordinary endings. England became World Cup champions in circumstances that left New Zealand heartbroken and many neutrals uncertain about the fairness of the tiebreaker method.

Before the super over era, tied ODIs ended as ties — with each team receiving one point in tournament contexts rather than having to replay or use tiebreakers. Several such results occurred in major tournaments, including a famous 1999 World Cup Super Six tie between South Africa and Australia that had profound implications for the knockout standings of both teams.

The Psychology of Playing for a Tie

In limited-overs cricket, teams never 'play for a tie' in the way a football team might play for a draw. A batting side always aims to win and a fielding side always aims to take wickets and restrict runs below the target. Ties happen when the match situation produces a unique equilibrium — the batting side falls short by zero, the last wicket falls on the penultimate ball, or the run-rate calculus produces exactly equal scores. In Test cricket, the improbability is multiplied because four innings must align. A tied match is sport at its most theatrically perfect — the ultimate expression of a truly even contest.