Updated July 15th, 2019 at 17:12 IST
World Cup | 'Wickets lost? Runs minus extras? Joint winners?': Harsha Bhogle dissects raging controversy over boundary-count deciding final winner
There were many fans who expressed their disappointment with the rule where the winner was decided on the basis of boundaries scored. Even the cricketing fraternity came forward to have a say on this issue. Among them was Harsha Bhogle.
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England overcame New Zealand in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to lift their maiden World Cup at Lord's on Sunday. The hosts got fourth time lucky after they had failed in their previous three finals in 1979, 1987 and 1992 respectively. They also became the third host nation after India (2011) and Australia (2015) to win the coveted trophy on home soil. Meanwhile, New Zealand also became the third team to lose two consecutive finals after England (1987&1992) and Sri Lanka (2007& 2011).
The outcome of the finale was decided on Super Over after both teams were tied at 242 after 100 overs of cricket. Even the Super Over was tied after both teams finished at the score of 15 but, England emerged as the winners owing to the boundary count, with the hosts having scored 24 boundaries in their innings against New Zealand's 17.
There were many fans who expressed their disappointment with the rule where the winner was decided on the basis of boundaries scored. Even the cricketing fraternity came forward to have a say on this issue. Among them was Harsha Bhogle.
The 'Voice of Indian Cricket' took to social media and posted a few questions.
He asked if the outcome of the match could have been decided with the number of runs excluding the extras and the number of wickets lost or should a cricket match have joint winners if a super over is tied?
The veteran commentator then asked whether a Wimbledon be decided by a tie-breaker? Should the final of a World Cup be decided by who scores more penalties? before adding that there are positives and negatives of every system but the teams and players agree to go ahead with them.
Bhogle then went on to add that the counting of boundaries in super overs is not new as it has happened in World T20 games. He also mentioned that before super overs, the tied matches were won on bowl-outs. After all, who can forget that famous bowl-out between India and Pakistan in the inaugural edition of the event in 2007 where India beat their arch-rivals 3-0?
The 57-year-old then said that it was time to have a discussion over the playing conditions. At the same time, he also highlighted that when the teams are asked if they want any changes, they accept the rules as they are.
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Published July 15th, 2019 at 16:04 IST