Despite securing a dramatic 22-run victory in the third Test against India at Lord’s, England have been penalized for maintaining a slow over rate, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Wednesday.
The home side was found to be two overs short of the target, resulting in:
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A 10% match fee fine for all players.
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A two-point deduction in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 standings.
“England captain Ben Stokes pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC said in an official statement.
Why the Penalty?
During the Test match, the Dukes ball had to be replaced multiple times due to going out of shape, which may have contributed to the delay. However, under ICC rules, players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over not completed on time, and teams lose one WTC point per over short.
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Impact on WTC Standings
The two-point deduction has dropped England from second to third in the WTC table:
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Australia lead the standings after a 3-0 sweep of West Indies.
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Sri Lanka have moved up to second place.
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England, despite being in excellent form, now face a tighter race in the championship.
Looking Ahead
The setback comes as Jofra Archer eyes a full return to Test cricket and hopes to play in the remaining two matches against India as well as the upcoming Ashes tour. Archer’s performance in the third Test, including a five-wicket haul, added to England’s momentum, but over-rate penalties remain a concern for teams competing in the WTC format.
