What could have been a better option to determine World Cup champions?

England's World Cup title win was overshadowed by controversies after scores were tied in the match as well as in the Super Over. England were crowned champions for hitting 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17 in the entire match.

Hyderabad: England won their maiden World Cup title after beating New Zealand on the boundary count in a thrilling final at the Lord's on Sunday. With England's victory cricket got a new champion after 23 years.

However, England's World Cup title win was overshadowed by controversies after scores were tied in the match as well as in the Super Over. New Zealand batting first scored 241 for 8 in stipulated 50 overs. England, in reply, finished with exactly the same total but were all out in their quota of 50 overs after Mark Wood was run out by Trent Boult.

In the Super Over, both teams scored 15 each off 6 balls. However, England were crowned champions for hitting 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17 in the entire match.

This game situation appeared to be a delight for Eoin Morgan's England but heartbreak for Kane Williamson's side as they finished on the wrong side of the result for doing nothing wrong.

England players celebrate with the 2019 World Cup trophy.

The result saw cricket fraternity crying foul for 'unfairly' announcing England the champions on boundary count.

So, now the question is that there could not have been a better option than announcing the result on boundary count.

Wickets lost

Since England were bowled out for 241, the same score New Zealand put on the board losing 8 wickets, the match could have been decided on the basis of fewer wickets lost. Out of 40 tied matches in ODI cricket history, 4 have had winners declared. Apart from England vs New Zealand and Australia vs South Africa, the other two matches were India vs Pakistan in 1987, and Australia vs Pakistan in 1988. In these four matches, winners were decided on the basis of fewer wickets lost. Going by that logic, New Zealand (241 for 8) would have beaten England (241 all out).

England and New Zealand players are trying to console Martin Guptill.

Since England were bowled out in the match there was no requirement for Super Over too. This was the first instance when a team won World Cup after being bowled out while chasing a target in 50 overs.

Previous result

There is only one other instance of a World Cup knockout match ending in a tie - Australia vs South Africa in 1999 World Cup semifinal. Australia were declared winners because they had beaten the Proteas in the group league match. Going by that logic England would have won the match.

1999 World Cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa ended in a tie.

Super Over until match produces a result

Former Australia leg-spinner and 1999 World Cup winning great Shane Warne said that there could have been another Super Over until the match produces a clear result.