England And New Zealand Docked Points For Slow Over-rate In Christchurch Test, India Get Massive WTC Final Boost – News18
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England and New Zealand fined for slow over-rate in the first Test in Christchurch as India’s chances increase for WTC final.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham and England captain Ben Stokes (AP)
New Zealand and England have been sanctioned for maintaining a slow over-rate during the opening Test of their series in Christchurch. Both teams were fined 15 per cent of their match fees and penalised three crucial World Test Championship (WTC) competition points, adding more intrigue to the thrilling final stages of the ongoing cycle.
New Zealand and England were both found to have three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration, with sides penalised one point for each over they were found to be short.
“David Boon of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after both Ben Stokes and Tom Latham’s sides were ruled to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration,” the ICC said in a statement.
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.
In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short.
Both captains pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
What It Means For World Test Championship?
Points deductions for two Test nations sees the race to feature at next year’s Final thrown wide open. The race to feature at next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s has taken a twist.
World Test Championship Standings
| Position | Country | Played | Won | Lost | Drew | Points Deducted | Total Points | Percentage Points |
| 1 | India | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 110 | 61.11 |
| 2 | South Africa | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 59.26 |
| 3 | Australia | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 90 | 57.69 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 50.00 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 47.92 |
| 6 | England | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 102 | 42.50 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 33.33 |
| 8 | West Indies | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 26.67 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 25.00 |
While England are already out of contention of reaching next year’s WTC final despite the impressive eight-wicket triumph at Hagley Oval, the loss in competition points is a major blow to New Zealand who drop from equal fourth to outright fifth on the standings as a result.
New Zealand now have a points percentage of 47.92 per cent and can only move as high as 55.36 per cent with victories from their remaining two fixtures against England.
It means the inaugural World Test Championship winners face a tough ask to qualify for next year’s one-off Test in June 2025, with two wins against England and several other results also needing to go their way if they are to reach the Lord’s decider.
This means that the Black Caps have dropped to fifth place in the standings, and their chances of making it to the summit clash have taken a significant hit.
On the other hand, India and South Africa’s emphatic wins have boosted their chances of making it to Lord’s next year, while defeats for Sri Lanka and Australia mean the two sides need to lift their game to improve their point percentage in the World Test Championship.
With a victory over Bangladesh at home, West Indies have lifted themselves from the bottom of the WTC standings.
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