Have you heard of “Super Over” in cricket? If not, no worries! Let’s talk about it.

Imagine a T20 or ODI cricket match ends in a tie. Now what? That’s where the Super Over comes in! Both teams get to play 6 more balls. The team with the most runs wins. That’s why some call it a “one-over Eliminator”.

But there are rules for the Super Over. Like, what if teams score differently with boundaries? Or if the Super Over also ties? Let’s explore the Super Over more!

How the Super Over Works: Rules Explained

1. Each Team Gets One Over in a Super Over

A Super Over is like a mini-match. Both teams get to bat for just 6 balls or one over. The team with the most runs wins the game!

2. The Last Batting Team in the Match Goes First

This rule is simple. The team that tried to reach the match target now sets the Super Over’s goal. Some see this as a benefit, but it doesn’t really give any team an upper hand.

3. Each Team Can Have Up to 3 Batsmen (2 Wickets)

In the Super Over, each team can pick 3 batters. The captain must name these players before the Super Over starts. If a team loses 2 wickets during the Super Over, their turn is over.

There’s a video where New Zealand loses both their wickets in a Super Over. This is the only time in cricket history that’s happened.

4. A Player Can’t Both Bat and Bowl in a Super Over

Captains can pick players for the Super Over, but they can’t choose the same player to both bat and bowl. So, a captain must pick 4 players for the Super Over: 3 batters and 1 bowler.

5. The Fielding Team Picks the Bowling Side

Did you know in cricket, bowlers use two different sides of the pitch to bowl? These sides are called bowling ends. In a Super Over, the bowling team gets to pick which end they want to bowl from.

6. Each Team Gets One Unsuccessful Player Review

A player review lets a team challenge an umpire’s decision. If the review shows the umpire was wrong, it’s a successful player review. But if the umpire was right, it’s an unsuccessful player review.

In the Super Over, teams get 1 chance for an unsuccessful review. So, they can keep challenging decisions until the review shows the umpire was right. After that, no more reviews for them.

7. The Super Over Must be Played on the Original Cricket Pitch

Cricket pitches are specially prepared for different types of matches, like Test Matches, ODIs, or T20s. But remember, the Super Over is always played on the same pitch used during the match.

8. The Team with the Most Runs Takes Victory

The Super Over is to pick a winner. The team with the most runs wins, no matter how many wickets they lose.

For example, if Team A gets 15 runs with no wickets lost, but Team B gets 16 runs with 1 wicket lost, Team B wins. They got more runs, even if they lost a wicket.

But the match record will say, “Match Ended as a Tie – Team B won through a Super Over”.

What If the Super Over Results in Another Tie?

What happens if a Super Over ties? It’s rare but can happen!

Before 2010, the team hitting more sixes during the game (excluding the Super Over) won if the Super Over tied. Even though no games tied after a Super Over, the rule later favored total boundaries, not just sixes.

But after the 2019 World Cup Final tied, even after a Super Over, people debated this rule. England won due to more boundaries. The ICC faced lots of criticism for this.

So, in September 2019, the ICC updated the rules. Now, if a Super Over ties, they keep playing Super Overs until there’s a winner!

A History & Conclusion

Super Overs are a recent addition to international cricket. They started in T20 cricket in 2008, replacing the older “Bowl Out” method for tied games.

Here’s something cool: In ICC tournaments, if a T20 game ties, they use a Super Over, even if it’s not a do-or-die match. But it’s different for One Day Internationals (ODIs).

In the 2011 ODI World Cup, the Super Over was introduced but only for critical matches. For example, India and England tied a game that year, but no Super Over was played since it was a group game.

By the 2015 World Cup, Super Overs were only for the final match. But in the 2019 World Cup in England, they brought it back for the knockout games.

And guess what? The 2019 World Cup Final was the first ODI ever to use a Super Over!