The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Monday, released the new rules applicable in case of a Super Over during knockout stages of ODIs and T20Is.
The new rules will be implemented in the forthcoming T20I series between South Africa and England, followed by the series against Australia. Cricket South Africa (CSA), in their latest press release, confirmed.
The ICC copped huge criticism for their Super Over-rule in the 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand.
The hosts, England, won the World Cup event after the Super Over failed to distinguish the run difference between the two teams, by the virtue of the number of boundaries hit during the 50-overs of batting.
Cricketing fraternity appeared largely dissatisfied by the rule after it replaced the initial bowl-out showdown.
The new rule implies Super Over to be played in infinite loops until the difference in the number of runs is determined between the two teams.
“If the match is tied a Super Over is played. If the Super Over is a tie, then subsequent Super Overs shall be played until there is a winner,” stated the new guidelines according to ICC’s official website.
In circumstances where there are unavoidable time constraints, such as, but not limited to, double-header matches which do not allow the completion of multiple Super Over(s) the Home Board may, prior to the start of the series and by notification to the participating teams, limit the number of possible Super Overs,” the guideline further declares.
Further, ICC stated 24 new clauses which clarify the details of Super Over in scrutiny. There have been wholesale changes for the time limits issued for the Super Over.
The details are mentioned below:
- Unless exceptional circumstances arise, there shall be an unlimited number of Super Overs played to achieve a result. (see Clause 24 below).
- The Super Over involves each team facing one over (unless all out earlier), and the winner shall be the team that scores the most runs from its one over innings.
- The loss of two wickets in the over ends the team’s one over innings.
- Each team shall be allowed to make one unsuccessful Player Review in each innings of the Super Over. This entitlement shall apply irrespective of the number of unsuccessful Player Review requests made during the match itself.
- Subject to weather conditions the Super Over will take place on the scheduled day of the match at a time to be determined by the ICC Match Referee.
- In normal circumstances, it shall commence 5 minutes after the conclusion of the match. The Super Over will be played until completion, but if there are any delays or interruptions during the Super Over, Extra Time (taken from the start of the first Super Over) is allocated to complete the Super Over or any subsequent Super Overs. The amount of extra time allocated to the Super Over is the greater of the gap between the time at which the match ended and the time the original match would have been scheduled to finish had the entire extra time provision been utilized, or 20 minutes.
- Should play be delayed prior to or during the Super Over(s) once the playing time lost exceeds the Extra Time allocated, the Super Over(s) shall be abandoned.
- The Super Over shall take place on the pitch allocated for the match (the designated pitch) unless otherwise determined by the umpires in consultation with the Ground Authority and the ICC Match Referee.
- Only nominated players in the match (including activated concussion replacements) may participate in the Super Over. Should any player (including the batsmen and bowler) be unable to continue to participate in the Super Over due to injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons, the relevant Playing Conditions as they apply in the match shall also apply in the Super Over.
- Any penalty time being served in the match shall be carried forward to the Super Over.
- The umpires shall stand at the same end as that in which they finished the match.
- The team batting second in the match shall bat first in the Super Over. The captain of the fielding team (or his nominee) shall select the ball with which the fielding team shall bowl its over in the Super Over from the box of spare balls provided by the umpires (which shall include the balls used in the match, but no new balls). The team fielding first in the Super Over shall have first choice of ball. The team fielding second may choose to use the same ball as chosen by the team bowling first. If the ball needs to be changed, the Playing Conditions shall apply.
- The fielding side shall choose the end from which it is to bowl its one over.
- Each team’s over is played with the same fielding restrictions as apply for the last over in a match played under the ICC Twenty20 International Playing Conditions.
- The winners of the Super Over shall be the team which scored the most runs as per normal playing conditions and irrespective of the number of wickets lost. (See also Clause 3 above)
- If the Super Over is tied, then subsequent Super Overs will be played until there is a winner.
- In normal circumstances any subsequent Super Over will start 5 minutes after the previous Super Over ends. The interval shall be 5 minutes.
- The team batting second in the previous Super Over will bat first in the subsequent Super Over.
- The balls selected for use by each team in the previous Super Over shall be used again by the same team in subsequent Super Overs.
- The fielding side must bowl it’s over in a subsequent Super Over from the opposite end to which it bowled from in the previous Super Over.
- Any batsman dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in the following Super Over.
- The bowler who bowled the over in the previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bowl the over in the subsequent Super Over.
- All other playing conditions will be the same as for the initial Super Over.
- In circumstances where there are unavoidable time constraints, such as, but not limited to, double-header matches which do not allow the completion of multiple Super Over(s) the Home Board may, prior to the start of the series and by notification to the participating teams, limit the number of possible Super Overs.
