ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Points System for Group and Super Six Stages

The points scoring and tie breaker systems that will be used in the Group and Super Six stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 are as follows:

In the Group stage, four points will be secured for a win and two points for a tie or no result. The top three sides in each of the two groups will progress to the Super Six stage. Those six teams will carry forward points gained from Group matches, in the following way:

- Four points per win against other qualifiers, or two points for a tie or no result - One point for each win against a non-qualifying country, or a half point in the event of a tie or no result.

These allocations have been revised from the 1999 World Cup, where teams carried forward two points from wins against other qualifiers, but no points from matches against non-qualifiers. The new system was adopted after consultation with all member Boards, to ensure that the Super Six stage is as open and competitive as possible. By taking more points through from the Group stage, the prospect of `dead' matches in the Super Six stage is statistically reduced.

If teams finish equal on points at the end of the Group and Super Six stages, a number of criteria have been selected for deciding which side progresses into either the Super Six or semi finals stages of the tournament. For the Super Six stage these will be:

1. The team with the most wins in-group matches.

2. Teams equal on both points and wins will be decided by the winner of the group game between them. If more than two teams have equal points and wins, the team winning the most number of matches played between those teams will be placed higher.

3. If still equal, the team with the higher net run rate will go forward.

4. If still equal, the team with the higher number of wickets taken per balls bowled in-group matches in which results were achieved, will go forward.

5. In the highly unlikely event that none of these criteria succeed in separating teams, lots would be drawn.

The final Super Six table will be calculated from the combination of points brought forward from the group stage, and points won in Super Six matches. The top four teams will qualify for the semi finals. The top placed team will play the team in fourth position, while the second and third places will contest the other semi final. Where teams finish level on points, the semi finalists will be decided on similar criteria used to select Super Six qualifiers:

1. The team with the most wins in all matches against other Super Six qualifiers.

2. Teams equal on both points and wins will be decided by the winner of the game between them, in either the Group or Super Six stage. If more than two teams have equal points and wins, the team winning the most number of matches played between those teams during the tournament, will be placed higher.

3. If still equal, the team with the higher net run rate in all matches played against other Super Six qualifiers will go forward.
4. If still equal, the team with the higher number of wickets taken per balls bowled in all matches during the tournament against other Super Six qualifiers in which results were achieved, will go forward.

5. In the highly unlikely event that none of these criteria succeed in separating teams, lots would be drawn.