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'Neither team did actually lose': New Zealand coach suggests tied World Cup should be shared

England and New Zealand both scored 241 runs in their 50-over innings during Sunday’s final, and matched each other once more in a super-over, scoring 15 runs each

Lawrence Ostlere
Tuesday 16 July 2019 10:17 BST
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England's route to Cricket World Cup glory

Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team, has suggested the ICC should consider introducing a rule which allows the World Cup to be shared by two finalists in the event of a tie, following England’s knife-edge win over the Black Caps at Lord’s.

England and New Zealand both scored 241 runs in their 50-over innings during Sunday’s final, and matched each other once more in a super-over, scoring 15 runs each, but New Zealand still missed out on the trophy courtesy of England’s greater number of boundaries scored.

The narrow and rather niche margins which decided who earned their place among cricket’s World Cup winners left an understandably bitter aftertaste for Kiwi fans, players and coaching staff, although the team were praised for the good grace in which they accepted such a cruel defeat.

It was also claimed by experienced former umpire Simon Taufel that England were incorrectly awarded an extra run during the climax to their innings, which may have ultimately altered the outcome of the game.

Asked whether sharing the trophy would have been a fairer outcome, Stead replied: “Perhaps when you play over a seven-week period and can’t be separated on the final day, that is something that should be considered. That’s one consideration over a whole lot of things that went on over the World Cup.

“Everything will be reviewed, and I think that it’s a good time to do it now. But probably just let the dust settle for a while.”

Stead’s batting coach, Craig McMillan, was stronger in his view that both teams should have been crowned winners of the tournament.

“It is not going to change yesterday’s result,” McMillan said. “But what is probably fair to say at the end of seven weeks in a big tournament like this, when you have two teams can’t be separated after a 50-over match and then a super-over and neither team did actually lose in many ways in terms of runs scored.

“Then perhaps sharing the trophy would be the right thing to do. Wasn’t to be yesterday, which we all are disappointed with. But it is sport and those were the rules.”

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