South Africa has been penalized six World Test Championship points for a slow over-rate. The Proteas are also fined 60% of their match fees as they were three overs short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration. The hosts decided to left out their lone spinner Keshav Maharaj from the final XI and went with an all-out pace attack. Thus, they had to pay the hefty price as they didn’t bowl a solitary over of spin.
Subsequently, South Africa became the first side that has been penalized for slow over-rate in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship and they lose out on points. The Rainbow nation had opened their account with 30 points in the Championship after they had won the first Test by 107 runs. But now they are left with 24 points after the penalty has been imposed.
There was not a single over of spin from South Africa.
ICC said in a press release, “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 fees 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, a team is penalized two points for each over short”.
The captain, Du Plessis pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. The on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth official Allahdien Palekar came up the charge.
Furthermore, South Africa slipped to the fifth position in the ICC Test rankings after losing the series 1-3. The hosts lost the fourth and final Test by 189 runs as have discovered new lows in the recent past.
Meanwhile, England has gained two places in the rankings as Joe Root-led side now takes the third place in the rankings with 105 rating points. Ben Stokes was awarded the Player of the series award.
