The International Cricket Council (ICC) has docked points and fined both England and Australia for maintaining slow over-rate during the five-Test Ashes series.

The ICC said in a release on its website on Wednesday that the two teams, who shared the series 2-2, have been fined one World Test Championship (WTC) point for every over short, along with match fees.

“Under the revised regulations, they were fined five per cent of their match fee and one WTC point for every over short,” the ICC said.

In the WTC cycle 2023-25, 12 points are awarded for every Test win and four for a draw.

Australia were docked 10 points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the fourth Test. England have been harder hit, losing as many as 19 points for falling behind
in over-rate in four out of the five Tests.

The ICC said: “England fell two overs short in the first Test at Edgbaston, nine in the second Test at Lord’s, three in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, and five in the last and final Test at The Oval.”

Hence, England, who made a comeback after being 2-0 down, lost a total of 19 points and managed only nine WTC points for all their efforts.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja questioned the ICC decision, pointing to the rain-affected final two days in the fourth Test at Manchester which ended in a draw.

“Don’t even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and @ICC
still issue fines and take 10 WTC points of us for slow over rates! That makes a lot of sense...” he wrote on Twitter.

Pakistan are currently on top of the WTC table following their 2-0 away win against Sri Lanka with 24 points, followed by India, who beat a very poor West Indies in one Test and drew the rain-hit second, with 16 points.

Australia, the winners of the last WTC cycle, are at third and England are at fifth, one rank below the West
Indies.

The sanctions will make the path to the final that much more difficult for Australia and England.

With inputs from PTI