New Zealand was robbed.
That’s the word from five-time umpire of the year Simon Taufel after England were crowned Cricket World Cup winners.
Australian Taufel says the hosts were gifted an extra run during their pursuit of the Black Caps’ 241, which they tied with after being bowled out in Sunday's final.
But the Poms eventually won after a Super Over.
However, Taufel, who is a member of the Lord’s-based MCC rules committee, says England never reached the score and benefited from a “clear mistake”.
During the final over when a throw-in hit Ben Stokes’ bat and went for a bonus four, the officials awarded six runs instead of five.
Taufel says: “They should have been awarded five runs, not six.
“In the heat of what was going on, [the umpires] thought there was a good chance the batsmen had crossed at the instant of the throw. Obviously TV replays showed otherwise.”
Ben Stokes puts up his hands in confusion after the ball ricocheted from his bat to the boundary. Photo: Andrew Boyers/Reuters.
According to Law 19.8 of the MCC rulebook: “If the boundary results from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder, the runs scored shall be any runs for penalties awarded to either side and the allowance for the boundary and the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if they had already crossed at the instant of the throw or act.”
Taufel adds: “I don’t wish to nitpick, just hope it never happens in such moments ever again.”