Ashes 2023: England, Australia docked WTC points over slow over-rate

LONDON, (Reuters): England and Australia have been penalised 19 and 10 World Test Championship (WTC) points, respectively and fined a percent of their match fees after they were found guilty of maintaining slow over-rate during the Ashes, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

The penalty means that Australia earned 18 WTC points from the series and England just nine.

Australia were fined 50 percent of their match fee for 10 overs in the fourth test at Manchester, while England received a “10 percent for the first test, 45 percent for the second, 15 pe cent for the fourth and 25 percent for the fifth.”

Australia opener Usman Khawaja last month revealed he had approached the ICC about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in test matches after the governing body announced it had decided to soften sanctions.

Khawaja said it was “really frustrating” for players to lose their match fees despite delivering entertaining matches.

Don't even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and @ICC still issue fines and take 10 WTC points of us for slow over rates! That makes a lot of sense… 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/NKuGI61n2n

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) August 2, 2023

The hosts beat Australia by 49 runs in the fifth and final Ashes test at The Oval on Monday, securing a 2-2 series draw.

Australia are third in the WTC standings, while England are placed fifth.

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