In a big blow to both Australia and England, both the teams have been penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for maintaining slow over rates during the just-concluded Ashes 2023 opening Test at Edgabaston on Tuesday (June 20). Australia ended up winning the thrilling Test drama by two wickets against England but Pat Cummins' brigade and Ben Stokes' men were fined 40 per cent of their match fees and two points from their World Test Championship tally.
Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after both teams were ruled to be two overs short of their targets after time allowances were taken into consideration.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins and England captain Ben Stokes accepted the sanctions as there was no need for formal hearings. The sanctions meant Australia have lost two WTC points which has left with 10 points after their first Test of the new 2023-2025 cycle. On the other hand, England are also deducted two points which means they are behind behind all eight of their rivals in the 2023-25 WTC cycle.
In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, sides are penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, two World Test Championship points will be deducted from both teams’ points total.
This is not the first incident of that sort as earlier Australia and India were penalised for slow over rates in the WTC 2023 Final which Pat Cummins' men ended up winning.
Notably, the ongoing Ashes series is the first of six series that will determine Australia’s qualification chances for the next WTC Final – scheduled to be held at Lord’s in London in June 2025.
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