'World Cup final overthrow should have been a dead ball': Shane Warne

Mumbai: England clinched their maiden World Cup title by edging past New Zealand on bondary count in the super-over of the ICC World Cup 2019. The showpiece final witnessed some controversial calls from the umpires. The decision of giving four overthrows after the ball deflected off Ben Stokes' bat proved to be a crucial match-defining moment.

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne, who is also a part of the MCC committee which will review the decision, also questioned it, saying that the overthrow should have been called a dead ball.

Speaking to IANS, Warne said that the spirit of the game calls for a ball to be called dead the moment a throw hits a batsman, irrespective of whether it goes for a boundary or not.

"Well I am on the committee that reviews it and we are doing that. I think the law of the game is pretty right. I suggested that it should be a dead ball at all times once it hits the body of the batsman whether it goes to the boundary or it doesn't. It should be a dead ball and you cannot run. I think that is the spirit of the game," he pointed.

Warne also expressed his excitement for the World Test Championship but feels that ICC should have marketed the tournament in a better way.

When asked about the numbers on the jerseys, the 49-year-old said that he doesn't mind having numbers on the back and wants them even on the jumpers.

"I don't mind the numbers in Test cricket as I think it is easier for the fans to identify the players, so I have no issue with it. I think they should have it on the jumpers as well because you can't see the numbers once the players put on the jumpers," said Warne.

While the umpiring standards have disappointed the legend, he is extremely happy with the way the Australian side have bounced back on the scene since the sandpaper incident.

"Over the last year or so, the Aussies have looked inside and tried to figure out who they want to be and how they want to play their cricket etc. I think they have become a very good side again. Their bowling has always been very good, but their batting with Smith and Warner back in, emergency of Mathew Wade and Travis Head has made them a very good side again. And I think they will become one of the best sides in world cricket again," he said.