The Super Over: Cricket's Most Dramatic Tiebreaker and the 2019 World Cup Final
The Super Over is cricket's tie-breaking mechanism in limited-overs matches. It was introduced for T20Is in 2008 and ODIs in 2011. The most famous Super Over occurred in the 2019 ICC World Cup final at Lord's between England and New Zealand — the match and the Super Over both tied, with England winning on boundary count. Ben Stokes scored 84* in the final and took a crucial boundary off a deflection. The Super Over rule was subsequently revised to eliminate the boundary-count tiebreaker.
The Super Over is the method used to break ties in limited-overs cricket (T20Is and ODIs). When a match finishes with scores level, each team faces exactly one over (6 legal deliveries) with a maximum of 2 wickets. The team with the higher score in the Super Over wins. If the Super Over also ties, the rules specify further tiebreakers (which have changed over time).
The 2019 World Cup Final
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final at Lord's between England and New Zealand is widely regarded as the greatest match in cricket history. New Zealand set 241; England were 241 all out off the last ball — a tie. The Super Over also tied: both teams scored 15. Under the ICC's rule at the time, the tiebreaker was boundaries scored in the main innings. England had hit 26 boundaries vs New Zealand's 17 — England were declared World Cup champions. The controversial moment: Ben Stokes scored 84*, including a boundary that came off a deflection from a fielder's throw — the ball hit Stokes's bat while he was diving and ran to the boundary for 6, giving England 6 instead of 2 (a 4-run windfall). The Laws technically permitted this overthrow but the spirit-of-the-game debate was intense.
Rule Changes
After the controversy of the 2019 final, the ICC revised its tiebreaker rules. From 2019 onward, if a Super Over also ties, another Super Over is played (and repeated until a team wins) — the boundary count rule was abolished. This means theoretically unlimited Super Overs can be played. The 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final also went to a Super Over (India vs England, England won). The revised rule ensures a decisive result purely by performance in additional play.
Frequently asked questions
How do cricket's fielding positions work, and what are the standard names for each position on the field?
Cricket fielding positions: complete explanation. Cricket has no fixed defensive positions like baseball — captains set their fielders anywhere within the circular boundary. However, positions have traditional names that describe the region of the field. The field is divided into two halves relative to the batsman: ON SIDE (also called 'leg side' or 'left side' for a right-handed batter) and OFF SIDE (right side). The pitch axis divides the field. Position names and locations: OFF SIDE (from batsman's right for a right-hander): Slip positions (1st slip, 2nd slip, 3rd slip): behind the wicket on the off side, close to the wicketkeeper. Fine leg: on the leg side behind square, near the boundary. Point: square of the wicket on the off side. Cover point / cover: between point and mid-off, off side mid-field. Extra cover: deeper than cover, slightly wider. Mid-off: off side, straight ahead of the bowler. ON SIDE: Fine leg: leg side behind the wicket, near the boundary. Square leg: directly square of the batsman on the leg side. Mid-on: on side, straight of the wicket. Mid-wicket: between square leg and mid-on. Square leg umpire position: where the umpire stands (not a fielder). Special positions: Gully: between point and the slips (for edges flying to that region). Short leg / silly mid-on / silly mid-off: close catchers near the batsman (used against spin bowlers). Long-on, long-off: deep positions on the straight boundaries. Third man: fine, on the off side near the boundary behind square. Boundary riders: fielders positioned on or near the rope to stop fours. Powerplay restrictions: in ODIs/T20Is, only 2–3 fielders are allowed outside a 30-yard circle in powerplay overs, concentrating fielders in close catching positions. The fielding captain sets positions based on: the batsman's tendencies (where they hit), the bowler's plan (where edges are likely), and the match situation (protecting boundaries late vs taking catches early).