If you are following cricket, and watching cricket matches. You have noticed that very rarely sometimes matches are tied without any result. To declare the result of the match, there is the option of playing super over between both teams.
Both teams get a chance of batting and bowling in one over each. The team that scores the most runs in one over is the winner. But it is not as simple as we think, there are many rules involved to declare the results.
So in this article you will get complete information about what is a super overs in cricket?. Rules of super over. When super over implemented in cricket rules. And the most famous matches, results made from super over. So join us to read complete information.
History of a Super Over
Before the use of the super over method. The question raised curiosity in cricket fans’ minds. That what happens if the match gets tied. Before the implementation of super over there was no answer to this question till 2007. Tie means both teams are equal, there is no result to the match.
In 2007, the T20I world cup match between Pakistan and India got tied. Everyone in the stadium and from all over the world who are watching this match on televisions, waiting for the decision of the result of this match. Hence the bowl out method was used for the result.
In order to provide the best result for the tie matches, in 2008 the super over method was introduced in place of the ball out method. We will discuss the complete details of super over in this article.
What is Super Over in Cricket?
A super over is a method used in T20 and ODI cricket to determine the result of the match, if it ends as a tie. Super over is also known as tiebreaker in cricket.
If the ODI or T20 match got tied between two teams. Both the teams play an additional one over, and the team who scores the most in that one over is declared as winner. However there are some rules for the implementation of the super over, that will be discussed below.
Super Over in Different Formats of The cricket
- Super over in Test Cricket: There is no rule of super over in test cricket.
- Super over in ODI Cricket: There is no super over in leagues or normal matches of ODI cricket, both teams simply get one point each if the match gets tied. But if knockout matches like semifinals or finals of an ICC tournament get tied, then super over is the only option to decide the winner.
- Super over in T20 Cricket: In any T20 international or league matches, if it gets tied, then it goes to the super over.
What are the rules of a super over?
If you are willing to know how super over is played in cricket, you need to understand the rules of super over first. So the most important super over rules are discussed below.
When super over starts?
The time of super over is determined by the match referee. In normal cases super over starts after 10 minutes of the main match.
Which team bat first in Super Over?
The team who batted in the second innings of the match will bat first in super over. There is no toss for the super over. This rule is very simple, the team who is chasing the target in the main match will bat first in super over.
How many overs are in super over?
There is only one over for super over. Both teams will get a chance of batting and bowling in six balls or 1 over.
How many Batsmen are allowed in super over?
In super over maximum 3 batsmans are allowed for each team. Each team nominates their three batsmans for the super over. The captain of the team need to announce three batsmen before the super over began. If the batting team lost two wickets, their innings will be considered as complete.
Captains of both teams have the full right to choose the best players of their teams to play in super over. But there is a restriction that the captain not choose the same player for bowling and batting. So the captain of each team need to nominate total 4 players, 3 for batting and one player for bowling
Fielding Rules in Super Over
During the match overs are bowled from two different sides of the pitch, which is called bowling end. In super over, the bowling team is allowed to choose the bowling end. There is restriction of fielding in super over. A maximum of 4 players allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
Total Reviews allowed in Super over
In super over, both teams have 1 review, which can be used in batting or bowling. If the team disagrees with the decision of the umpire. They will have a chance to review or challenge the umpire decision only 1 time.
Other Super over Rules
- Super over will be played on the same pitch, which is used for the main match
- The umpire for the super over shall stand on the same end, where they were standing in the main match.
Super Over tie rules
If you are reading this article till this point, the question surely comes to your mind that what happens if super over, is also tied. To get your answer read the details given below.
When the super over method was introduced in cricket. This was the top question, from fans and experts. To deal with this confession ICC made a rule that if the super over also ended with a tie, then the team with most sixes in the main match (not in super over) will be the winner.
After this rule, not a single match was tied in a super over. So, this rule was changed Later to the boundary count instead of sixes. Later the rule becomes that if the super over is also tied, then the team with the most amount of boundaries in the main match will be the winner.
After the final of the 2019 world cup, this rules became the most debated topic in cricket. According to fans and cricket experts, they disagreed with this rule because they believe this rule is unfair for the second team.
So, in September 2019, ICC changed the super over rule. According to the latest rules, if a super over also ends with a tie, then the match will continue with more super overs until the winner gets decided.
Best Super over in cricket history
The best and most interesting super over in cricket history was in the 2019 world cup final. The 2019 cricket world cup final was played between New zealand and England. New zealand gave the target of 242 by batting first.
England feel difficulties to chase this target because new zealand bowlers perform very well. But benstocks carry the england team. In the last thrilling over of the 2019 world cup, England needed 15 runs.
Stocks hit six on the third ball, on the next ball, when the fielder threw the ball to stop the run, the ball touched the bat of stock and went to the boundary. According to rules it was considered as four runs. In the last ball players ran for double runs but one of them got run out. So the result of the match was declared as a tie and super over announced.
In super over England gave a target of 16 runs. New zealand players failed to chase the target and super over also got tied. So according to the rules at that time if super over also tied the team with the most boundaries in their innings will be the winner.
England had more boundaries in that match, so the England team was declared as the winner of the 2019 world cup. After this match the rule of super over got changed, which we had already discussed in this article.
Conclusion
Super over is the important part of cricket to declare the fair results of matches. It is very rare nowadays. Super over rules and history is discussed in this article. So if you found this article helpful, knowledgeable and interesting give us your feedback through comments sections.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
The first super over was played in a t20 match between west indies and New zealand on 26th December 2008.
NO! New ball is not allowed in super over
The best, thrilling and most interesting super over was played between New Zealand and England in Finals of 2019 world cup.