Draw vs Tie in Cricket — They Are Not the Same Thing
Why a draw and a tie are completely different results in cricket, when each can occur, and the rarest match results — the tied Test and the Super Over resolution.
In everyday English, 'draw' and 'tie' mean the same thing. In cricket, they describe completely different outcomes. Confusing them is one of the most common errors casual fans make. Understanding the distinction is essential to reading scorecards and following Test cricket.
What Is a Draw?
A draw occurs in Test cricket when the match ends (usually due to time running out after the scheduled overs are complete) without either team winning. The batting team is not all out and the team chasing does not reach the target — the match simply runs out of time. Scores at the end of a drawn match are almost always unequal: one team may be 280/6 chasing 350 when time expires. The draw is exclusive to multi-day cricket and is impossible in limited-overs formats (which have Super Overs for ties).
What Is a Tie?
A tie is when both teams score exactly the same number of runs and all wickets have fallen (or in ODIs/T20s, all overs have been completed). In a Test tie, the team chasing must be all out with the scores level — if they still have wickets but runs are equal, play continues. In ODIs and T20s, if the scores are tied at the end of both innings, a Super Over determines the winner.
Tied Tests
There have been only two tied Tests in the history of men's cricket: Australia vs West Indies at Brisbane, 1960 (the first-ever tied Test — Joe Solomon's direct hit run out with the last ball of the match); and India vs Australia at Chennai (Madras), 1986. No tied Tests since 1986. Women's cricket has also had tied Tests.
Super Over
In T20 and ODI cricket, a Super Over resolves tied matches. Each team nominates two batters and one bowler and plays one over. The team that scores more runs in the Super Over wins. If the Super Over is also tied, further Super Overs are played (or boundary count rules apply in some competitions). The most famous Super Over: 2019 World Cup Final — England vs New Zealand, tied at 241 each, Super Over also tied, England won on boundary count.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Test match be abandoned without a draw result?
Yes — if weather or external circumstances prevent any play, the match is 'abandoned' rather than 'drawn.' No result is recorded, and no WTC points are typically distributed (though ICC regulations specify partial point allocations).
Who wins a tied ODI final if no Super Over is possible?
Competition rules vary. Some tournaments share the trophy, others use previous head-to-head results as the tiebreaker. The 2019 World Cup boundary count rule has since been retired.
Has there ever been a tied T20 World Cup match?
Yes — there have been several tied T20 International matches, resolved by Super Overs. The most notable group-stage ties are resolved by Super Overs; finals by Super Overs until a winner emerges.