The Ashes 2023

‘England ka toh 12 baja gaya’ – Fans react as England and Australia lose points due to slow over rates in WTC during Ashes

England and Australia’s points have been cut in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table after the International Cricket Council (ICC) fined them for a slow over-rate in the recently concluded Ashes 2023. Whereas the Ashes 2023 ended in a 2-2 draw after the fourth Test match was washed out due to rain, as per the Indian Cricket Council, the five per cent match fee and one WTC point are now deducted for every over-short over. 

Whereas in the WTC cycle 2023-25, 12 points are awarded for every Test match win and four for a draw to the particular side. Australia, who retained the Ashes after avoiding the series loss in 2023, had 10 points cut short for maintaining a slow over-rate during the fourth Test. But the major loss is for the England side, as they have lost 19 points, and were behind in overrate in four out of five Test matches. 

Interestingly, Australia won the recently concluded WTC Final 2023 after beating India by 209 runs at the Oval. For playing the Finals,  Australia ended on top of the table of the WTC 2021-23 cycle as they had 152 points, which they collected after winning 11 matches in the 19 games they played during the season. India was second in last season’s WTC table with 127 points, including their 10 wins. 

The latest rule sanction resulted in Australia and England’s WTC points deduction

The latest changes in ICC rules came after sanctions related to the over-rate were announced during the ICC annual conference in South Africa, Durban in July 2023, after the new rules were put into effect. England and Australia were also fined for their errors, apart from the WTC point deduction. 

In the end, Pakistan is currently placed at the top spot in the WTC points table, following with 24 points, as they won the Test series in Sri Lanka 2-0.  followed by India at second with 16 points after their series win in the West Indies 1-0. 

Here’s how the fans reacted as ICC deducted WTC points from Australia and England: 

😳😳😳😳
Saala ek match ka 12 point ha
Aur england ka toh 12 baja gaya

— Jayant Agarwal 🌟🌟 (@manishann230000) August 2, 2023

Bazball 😂

— Saatvik Sharma (@SaatvikSharma15) August 2, 2023

If the #WTCFinals are decided based on win percent then deducting points is meaningless. It is similar to captain losing match fees. They won't care.

— Raj Balasubramanian (@raj_221173) August 2, 2023

This is very bad rule, In Asia teams will never face this overrate issue because of spin dominance we know spinner can bowl even more than 90 overs in a day, But in overseas SENA countries this will remain huge issue as pacers dominates more in these countries it will huge task…

— Lubana Warriors (@LovepreetS49) August 2, 2023

https://twitter.com/super_908_/status/1686700497162657792?s=20

But they showed us the best of Test cricket, which the Indian team does not show. Indian Team only earn points by playing with weak teams.

— जाट जी⚒️ (@00_butcher) August 2, 2023

That is stupid, 90 overs is way too many – cut it down to 80 & give them a chance, I don’t want test players running around just to get overs in , quality not quantity

— andrew walker (@wackerlegend) August 2, 2023

England earned 24 points for the 2 test matches they won in the Ashes and lost 19 of those due to their abysmal over-rate throughout the series.

Maximum run-rate, minimum over-rate.

— Zucker Doctor (@DoctorLFC) August 2, 2023

These lost of points will hamper both England and Australia while qualifying for the finals of WTC 23-25

— Siddhartha Das (@Siddhar62342227) August 2, 2023

I think this rule should be changed
Slow Over-Rate penalty should only apply on drawn tests as if the match is giving result why should cut your points.@ICC take notice

— A.Hanan Khan (@hanan_khan3) August 2, 2023