MCG To Host One-Off Australia And England Test In 2027 To Celebrate 150 Years Of Test Cricket
MCG To Host One-Off Australia And England Test In 2027 To Celebrate 150 Years Of Test Cricket

After the intense first Test of the Ashes 2023 series at Edgbaston seeing Australia defeating England by 2 wickets, the end proved to be bittersweet for both teams as they were sanctioned by the ICC for slow overrate offenses by the ICC.

Australia and England have lost two points from their World Test Championship tally after they were found guilty of maintaining slow over rates during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Apart from this, players from both sides were docked 40% of their match fees as a result of punishment for the offense.

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 And England Docked Two Points Each And Fined By ICC For Slow Overrates After First Ashes Test 1
England. PC- AFP

Australia captain Pat Cummins and England counterpart Ben Stokes accepted the sanctions, meaning there was no need for formal hearings.

Australia And England Docked Two World Test Championship 2023-25 Points

However, both the teams were not only monetarily hit by fines, but ICC also penalized them by docking two points each from England and Australia in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25) cycle.

This meant that Pat Cummins’ side was left with a total of 10 points after their first Test of the new cycle. England were also deducted two points, meaning they are behind all eight of their rivals in the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle.

Australia’s prospects of qualifying for the upcoming WTC Final, which will be hosted at Lord’s in London in June 2025, will be determined by the results of the current Ashes series, the first of six series.

Australia And England Docked Two Points Each And Fined By ICC For Slow Overrates After First Ashes Test 2
Australia-England.PC- AFP

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offenses, 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 penalized one point for each over short. Consequently, two World Test Championship points will be deducted from both teams’ points total.

Also Read: After Losing His Mother, Pat Cummins Opens Up On Emotional Family Moment After Starring In 1st Ashes Test