England fined and docked WTC points for slow over-rate

England have been fined and docked two World Test Championship points for their slow over-rate in the Test victory against India at Lord’s.

Ben Stokes’ side beat India by 22 runs during the third Test on Monday to take a 2-1 series lead.

However, England’s slow over-rate infuriated their opponents.

In a five-day Test, 90 overs are scheduled for each day and teams can be punished for failing to bowl 15 overs in an hour.

On day two of the Test when India closed 145-3, 72.3 overs were bowled – resulting in 15 overs being lost altogether from the match due to slow play.

Match referee Richie Richardson ruled that England, even with time allowances taken into account, were two overs short of the target.

Captain Stokes accepted the verdict, with the England team being docked 10% of their match fee as a result.

The docked points mean England have dropped from second to third in the World Test Championship standings for the current cycle from 2025-27, with Sri Lanka moving into second.

“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 five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” the ICC said in statement.

It is not the first time this year England have been punished for their slow over-rate.

England were docked 22 points during the 2023-25 cycle.

Stokes argued his team were at a disadvantage because of their use of pace bowlers – who require longer run-ups.

Ninety overs are scheduled for each day in a five-day Test match.

To prevent teams tactically wasting time to ensure a draw, all of the overs must be bowled on the fifth day barring interruptions for the weather but, on the previous days, the overs must be fitted into the six hours of play, with an extra half-hour made available at the end of the day.

While time can be made up for overs lost to the weather, there is no such provision when the reason is simply slow play. If overs are not bowled in that time they are lost from the match.

There are some penalties already in place in the International Cricket Council’s playing conditions but they have a limited impact.