ICC opts for World Cup 'Super Over'

The International Cricket Council has back-flipped on its initial decision to have joint winners in the event of a tie in the ICC Cricket World Cup final, announcing today a Super Over will instead be used to split a deadlock at the end of the match.

In a statement released by the ICC following its January 28 board meeting, the ICC said: "The ICC Board reinstated the use of a Super Over in the event of a tie in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final."

"This now replicates the arrangements for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final and other recent ICC events where a winner will be determined on the day of the final (weather permitting), and a Super Over was the most credible way to separate the two sides."

The Super Over will only be used if the final, to be played at the MCG on March 29, is a tie.

If there is a tie in the quarter, or semi-finals, the side finishing in the higher position in the group stage will progress. 

There will be reserve days for all knockout matches in the case of rain, but if there is no result after the final is played on the reserve day, the trophy will then be shared.

In this year’s KFC T20 Big Bash League, the Super Over was activated to determine the result of one match (watch below).

Slow over-rate penalties for the World Cup have also been changed, giving a reprieve to captains with suspensions hanging over their heads.

All captains will now enter the tournament with no slow over-rate ‘strikes’ against their names and will only be suspended from a World Cup match if an offence is committed during the event.

Those with existing strikes will instead carry them into their next series after the event.

Australia’s stand-in ODI skipper George Bailey was forced to sit out last Friday’s Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match as a penalty for slow over-rates.

The suspension meant his slate as captain was wiped clean.

In November last year, the ICC confirmed the Decision Review System (DRS) would be using during the World Cup.