Australia’s Ashes 2023 Win Is Set To Be Nullified Due To Their Huge Blunder: Australia’s triumph in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s is reportedly under threat in the World Test Championship (WTC) due to slow over rates. Peter Lalor, a News Corp cricket writer, has shared that the International Cricket Council (ICC) may deduct 13 WTC points from Australia for sluggish over rates in the third Test at Headingley. England also faces penalties.
Previously, both Australia and England saw 40% of their match fee docked for slow over rates in the first Test at Edgbaston. The same issue cost Australia a place in the inaugural WTC final in 2021, despite qualifying, as Tim Paine’s side bowled too slowly in a series against India.
The Aussies clinched the second edition of the WTC with an impressive win over India at The Oval last month. However, a 13-point penalty from a win worth 12 points is a significant blow, even with a two-year WTC cycle to recoup the loss.
As Lalor stated on SEN, this might come back to haunt them. The potential loss of up to 13 points could be a significant setback, recalling that a mere four-point loss excluded them from the first WTC final.
England too might face sanctions, having bowled at a glacial pace on Day 4 at Headingley, including an agonising nine-minute over. Lalor stressed the potential consequences and mentioned England’s appeal against the decision, to be discussed in the ICC’s upcoming chief executive conference.
Ashes 2023: Australia and England will face penalties due to slow-over rate
According to Lalor, England are arguing the regulations are too strict and demand adjustments. They are seeking a reset for bowling a side out in under 80 overs instead of the current 60 and consideration for stoppages like concussions. However, Lalor is sceptical about their success, predicting other countries’ reluctance to give them an advantage.
Adam Collins, a commentator, highlighted on SEN that England bowled 20.1 overs in 156 minutes on Day 3. Collins also noted that a 13-point penalty is more than a win, effectively costing Australia a victory due to their overrate. He labelled the situation as farcical and a bugbear for many fans and commentators.
Calls for harsher punishments are increasing, with the docking of match fee payments seen as insufficient. Damien Fleming, the former Australian fast bowler, urged for sterner penalties, even suggesting the loss of fielders as a potential deterrent.
Both Collins and Lalor referred to the fines as farcical and comical, stating that players rarely pay them. Lalor added that the match fee loss from Lord’s is irrelevant to players, calling it “just beer money”.
This controversy comes as England secure a win in the third Test at Headingley, making the series 2-1. The teams will next face off in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, starting on July 19.
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