Cricket fans are still recovering from the cracking World Cup final on Sunday which saw England beat New Zealand to take the trophy home. The intense match created history by being the only World Cup final to head into a ‘Super Over’ to break the tie between the two teams. In the end, the Kiwis managed to score 15 runs in the Super Over which was the same tally as that of England. However, England were declared the winners because of ICC’s boundary rule, which has left many fans disgruntled.
ICC’s boundary rule for World Cup 2019 stipulated that in case of a tie in the Super Over, the team with higher number of boundaries will be declared winners. In this match, England scored 26 boundaries in their innings which was more than the 17 hit by New Zealand, and this ultimately proved to be the vital difference.
This meant that even though both teams scored 15 runs in the Super Over and were still tied at the end of it, the ICC ruling implied that the Kiwis finished runners-up.
The rule, and the subsequent result, has caused quite some debate online, leaving many viewers miffed with the ICC. Some even accused the governing body of ruining the spirit of the game with such contentious rules.
Rules are made to improve the spirit of game, Not to let down, What's the meaning that the two team who hit more 4's would win a game. It's WC final not a gully match.
— Rajarahul (@Rajarahulsingh) July 15, 2019
Improve your rules @ICC#ICCRules
Congratulations to England!
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 14, 2019
Commiserations New Zealand.
I’ve got to say that it’s a horrible way to decide the winner. This rule has to change.
I don’t agree with that rule ! But rules are rules congratulations to England on finally winning the World Cup , my heart goes out for the kiwis they fought till the end . Great game an epic final !!!! #CWC19Final
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 14, 2019
#ICCRules England won by poor ICC rules and luck. New Zealand won billion Hearts. pic.twitter.com/zct9mDDQwb
— prabhuGanesan (@prabhuitb) July 15, 2019
#ICCRules i think one day, it would be a rule, where team scoring maximum boundaries will win, irrespective of whether the total is chased down or not, as the performance are judged on boundaries at such grand stages..
— Meghrajsinh (@icameghraj) July 15, 2019
England hos not won the match by themselves it's the #ICCRules which made them win !!! Such a ridiculous rule of counting fours !! @ICC you are ruining the game the spirit with such stupid rule's !
— Rohhan Patel (@rohhan90) July 15, 2019
Why don't wickets could decide the winner? New Zealand took 10 wickets, England took just 8 wickets only. Taking wickets are difficult than hitting boundaries. #ICCRules are also batsmen dominating.
— raghavendra prasad (@prasadraghava) July 15, 2019
#ICCRules dear, @ICC u r nothing bt a joke to entire world.1st ur so-called umpiring and 2nd the hilarious rules.if boundaries can decide who would be the winner then u could count by both innings no need for super over, and what about bowlers? Jokers??
— Arpita Chakraborty (@mamai27arpita) July 15, 2019
Real winner nz #iccrules #CWC19Final #Fakevictoryengland pic.twitter.com/HgccW9weBb
— என்றும்_தலஅஜித் (@iyyappareddy) July 15, 2019
Why don't you add up the jersey numbers and announce the winner with the highest total?
— Vignesh (@_vgnsh) July 14, 2019
Even that strange thing where they bowled at stumps and counted wickets during the initial years of T20 is better than this boundary rule. #BoundariesDontMakeAWinner
— Mohit Rao (@mohitmrao) July 14, 2019
Even that strange thing where they bowled at stumps and counted wickets during the initial years of T20 is better than this boundary rule. #BoundariesDontMakeAWinner
— Mohit Rao (@mohitmrao) July 14, 2019
If a cricket World Cup is going to be decided by the number of boundaries you hit in a match, then it is not cricket anymore. It's not the sport we know. Hitting more boundaries than the other side does not make you better if the runs are the same. Rubbish format, rubbish rules
— Priyansh (@Privaricate) July 14, 2019
Instead of changing @msdhoni gloves , the stupid @ICC should have changed their super over rules !!!!
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) July 15, 2019
Meanwhile, congratulations poured in for both teams who each put up an undeniably fantastic fight. There was also much praise for New Zealand captain Kane Williamson who kept his cool and dignity in the face of an agonising defeat.
Kane Williamson on England's fortunate four runs: "That was a little bit of shame, wasn't it? Unfortunately, that's the game we play, and that sort of thing happens from time to time."
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 14, 2019
What a gent #BackTheBlackCaps | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/4aQLW3Xgbg
The guy should be the world's president and CEO. https://t.co/iwLPvvv8Co
— Rahul Desai (@ReelReptile) July 14, 2019
My heart goes out to Kane Williamson and @BLACKCAPS. But congratulations for playing with dignity and class. You made a lot more friends and did your country proud.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 14, 2019
"Just be yourself and try to enjoy what you do". Kane Williamson's last answer at the Press Conference.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) July 14, 2019
Congratulations England pic.twitter.com/Ed0Z1GJYOc
— Vaishali Singh (@Vaishal86994667) July 15, 2019
#KaneWilliamson getting told he’s the player of the tournament cracks me up! “ME ” #ENGvsNZ #CWC19Final
— Sehwag Virendra (@VirenderSehhwag) July 15, 2019
pic.twitter.com/TfXyJlyYc4
It’s a wonderful feeling to see an Irishman and Dubliner @Eoin16 lifting the Cricket World Cup. A proud day for all of us. Congratulations Eoin Morgan and England. Our debut test encounter awaits.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 14, 2019
We Are Champions
— Jason Roy (@The_Genius17) July 15, 2019
We Are England
Congratulations Team England for Yo'r unbelievable momerable Victory
Ben Stokes.......You Are Real Hero
We Always Love You #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/ClLYNi8EiZ
A game that ebbed and flowed from the 1st ball to the 612th!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 14, 2019
Feel for New Zealand who did everything that England did and still fell short.
Congratulations to England.#CWC19 #NZvENG @ECB_cricket @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/FlEJb0NfId