ENG vs NZ: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has again implemented strict punishments on the England cricket team and the New Zealand cricket team after slow over rates in the recent Test match in Christchurch. There have been financial fines, and also points have been deducted from both teams in the WTC points table.
England registered a thumping victory against the Kiwis by eight wickets. However, both teams were three overs short of the required rate even after extra time was allowed to complete the quota. Hence the ICC has fined both teams 15 percent of their match fees and penalised three points for both teams in the WTC points table.
Under the ICC Code of Conduct, specifically Article 2.22, players face a penalty of five per cent of their match fee for each over-bowled beyond the scheduled time. Furthermore, according to Article 16.11.2 in the World Test Championship’s playing conditions, teams are penalized with a deduction of one point for every over they do not complete in time.
England have been docked 22 points in total in the current WTC cycle
The England captain, Ben Stokes, and the Kiwi captain, Tom Latham, accepted the sanctions, and hence there was no need for any formal hearing. On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Rod Tucker, third umpire Adrian Holdstock, and fourth official Kim Cotton brought in the charges. David Boon imposed the sanctions, abiding by the rule. However, the English captain has sarcastically taken a dig at ICC on his Instagram story. He wrote “Good on you, ICC” on his Instagram story.
Stokes’ team has now been penalised for 22 WTC points in total in the current WTC 2023-25 cycle. They were already penalised 19 points in the 2023 Ashes at home. The team finished in the fourth position in the previous two WTC cycles and is sixth in the current WTC cycle. The Kiwis have dropped down to fifth position in the standings, and their qualification scenario for the final looks tough now.
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