Cricket experts irked over ‘more boundaries’ rule deciding the World Cup winner

100 overs couldn’t separate England and New Zealand neither did the super over which followed. But England became the World Champions on the basis of more boundaries scored during their innings. They had scored 22 fours and two sixes while the Kiwis had sent the ball to the boundary on 16 occasions (14 fours and two sixes). The rules were decided before the tournament began but is it fair to decide the World Cup winner on the basis of the boundary count?

The cricket experts across the world are also fuming at the same questioning the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the rules. Opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 241 runs for the loss of eight wickets after 50 overs and once again deemed it enough to win them the trophy. Much like they did against India in the semi-final, the assessment of the pitch was perfect and they had England under the lid halfway through the second innings.

But Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler joined hands to take the game close before madness unfolded. The pendulum swung from one way to another ‘controversially; before the match ended in a dramatic tie.

Super Over also tied

Going by the rules, the chasing team has to bat first in the super over and England scored 15 runs and now New Zealand had to score 16 runs to win the title. James Neesham smacked Jofra Archer for a mammoth six in the super over chase to bring the equation down to 3 runs off two balls. But the BlackCaps could eke out only two runs to tie the super over as well and England were crowned the World Champions.

In a low scoring game where 482 runs were scored for the loss of 18 wickets in 100 overs, the winner was decided on the basis of boundary count. England conceded 30 extras with the ball which included 17 wides and a no-ball while the Kiwis had bowled only 12 wides. Shouldn’t these things be taken into consideration before deciding the winner? The same question was asked by the cricket experts on Twitter as they fumed over ICC as one of them taunted it to be the batsman’s game.

Well, it was unfair for New Zealand on the day but the governing body might have to look into the rule books once again after what happened at Lord’s on Sunday.

Here’s how cricket experts reacted:

Difficult to digest this more boundary rule. Something like sudden death- continuous super overs till a result is a better solution. Understand, wanting a definite winner but sharing a trophy is better than deciding on more boundaries. Very tough on New Zealand. #EngVsNZ

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 14, 2019

Don’t understand how the game of such proportions, the #CWC19Final, is finally decided on who scored the most boundaries. A ridiculous rule @ICC. Should have been a tie. I want to congratulate both @BLACKCAPS & @englandcricket on playing out a nail biting Final. Both winners imo.

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 14, 2019

Congratulations to England!
Commiserations New Zealand.
I’ve got to say that it’s a horrible way to decide the winner. This rule has to change.

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 14, 2019

So a World Cup is decided on the arbitrary ruling that boundaries are more important than wickets. Don’t ever tell me it’s not a batsman’s game. #cwc2019final

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) July 14, 2019

Cruel!

— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) July 14, 2019

The DL system is actually based on runs and wickets lost… yet the Final result is only based on Boundaries hit? Not fair in my opinion. Must have been great to watch!

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) July 14, 2019

Rules are rules .. no one could ever have foreseen such freakish events and now that we have the experience ..for next time we do need to look at it as it’s probably not the way to decide our biggest prize !! #CWCFinal19

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 15, 2019

I understand the frustration/anger around the #SuperOver rules, deciding a #WorldCupfinal on a boundary count is contentious. The rule I’m confused about is – “The team batting second in the main match will bat first in the Super Over” How is this a level playing field? @ICC

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) July 15, 2019

What a contest! Best ever final by a mile. NZ a dive and a leap away from WC glory and England absolutely super in super over and super lucky as well. Ricochet/overthrow overthrew NZ. Couldn’t the Cup been shared!

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) July 14, 2019

Nice work @ICC … you are a joke!!!

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) July 14, 2019