Already reeling from a humiliating 253-run defeat against New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval on Sunday, England have been docked 12 points and handed a fine of 50% of their match fee for a slow-over rate offence during the second game. The hosts were found to be running 12 overs short, and losing 12 points is a massive blow in their quest for the maiden World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance. Currently, England sit seventh in the points table, but their points percentage has dropped from 34.72 to 26.38.
The penalty was imposed by ICC Elite Panel match referee Andy Pycroft under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which refers to minimum over-rate offences.
"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 each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time, with the maximum penalty capped at 50 per cent of the match fee," the ICC said in a statement.
Notably, as per the World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is penalised one point for each over short. Meanwhile, New Zealand made a stunning comeback to level the series and set up a series decider. England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have returned to the side for the third and final Test after being left out of the second Test following an ECB investigation into a nightclub incident.