For their slow over-rates in their opening Test match in Christchurch, England and New Zealand were once again subject to severe sanctions from the International Cricket Council (ICC). England captain Ben Stokes has expressed his frustration with the consequences, which include monetary fines and World Test Championship (WTC) point deductions.
The ICC’s over-rate rules penalised both teams in the match, which England won handily by eight wickets. The official verdict said that, after accounting for time allowances, both sides fell three overs shy of the minimum rate. As a result, each team lost three vital World Test Championship points and was penalised 15% of their match fees.
Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct states that players who do not bowl within the designated time are penalised five percent of their match fee. The WTC playing conditions’ Article 16.11.2 further states that a team loses one point for each shortfall.
The squad captained by Ben Stokes has been fined 22 WTC points.
A formal hearing was not necessary because Ben Stokes and Tom Latham, the team captains, agreed to the charges. On-field referees Ahsan Raza and Rod Tucker, third umpire Adrian Holdstock, and fourth official Kim Cotton all proposed the sanctions, which match referee David Boon finally enforced. Stokes, in the meantime, responded to the news by posting on Instagram with the message, “Good on you ICC.”
In the 2023–25 cycle, the Three Lions had already lost 19 points in the 2023 Ashes series due to identical incidents, and they have now been punished 22 WTC points. England will also not be hosting the final for the third time in a row because they placed fourth in the first two WTC editions and are now sixth in the current cycle. Due to the points deduction, the Kiwis’ prospects of making it to the final are put in jeopardy as they fall from fourth to fifth place in the WTC standings.
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