England v Australia. (Photo Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
England hosted Australia for the Ashes and cricket fans witnessed some memorable cricketing action across the five Ashes Tests as the two teams ended the series 2-2 stalemate. Many considered the scoreline a fair result as both teams played quality cricket and did not give their opposition an inch.
While garnering appreciation from the cricket world for their performance, the fierce rivals had to endure sanctions from the International Cricket Council (ICC), who docked them off important World Test Championship (WTC) points. Australia were docked 10 WTC points for the 2023-2025 cycle while England lost a whopping 19 points for maintaining slow over-rates during the Ashes.
Ben Stokes‘ men could only manage to meet the over-rate criteria in the third Test at Headingley. They lost two, nine, three, and five points in the first four Tests, respectively. Australia, on the other hand, lost their 10 points during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which ended in a draw after multiple rain breaks.
The ICC has been strict on over-rate offences as a team is docked one WTC point for each over they fail to deliver within the permissible time, taking all possible delays into consideration. So, while Australia and England received the same points (28) from the Ashes, after the deductions, a considerable gap has formed between them on the WTC table.
Australia are at No. 3 on the points table with the percentage of points (PCT) being 30. On the other hand, England got a PCT of only 15 and they are currently at No. 5, behind the West Indies, who failed to win a Test during their home series against India.
India and Pakistan gain advantage
Pakistan had a promising start to their WTC 2023-2025 cycle as they whitewashed Sri Lanka away from home in a two-match series. The Babar Azam-led side has a perfect PCT of 100. India, on the other hand, won their away series against West Indies 1-0, winning the first Test while drawing the second due to rain. They have a PCT of 66.67.
England and Australia losing considerable points have certainly benefitted the Asian giants as they have gained a big lead and occupy the top of the table. However, the third WTC cycle has just started and lots of twists and turns are likely to take place.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Beware of slow over rates. England docked 19 World Test championship points, Australia 10. Pakistan & India now 1 and 2 on WTC points table with 24 & 16 points. Both Australia & England would have 28 pts & stayed at the top had they not lost these points. #Ashes2023 #Ashes #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/77nfiJzfM8
— Sumit Ghosh (@SumitG71) August 2, 2023
Usman Khawaja is unhappy with the ICC after Australia’s point deduction in WTC points table . pic.twitter.com/pG48VDwnWH
— CRICK info….. (@Prangya48501179) August 2, 2023
Just got to know that England and Australia have lost points for slow over rate in WTC table.
As things stand now, a WTC Final between Pakistan and England will be pinnacle of new age Test cricket. Also, the pace bowling competition in English conditions. 😳 pic.twitter.com/5aNdD6LsBe
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) August 2, 2023
WTC 2023-25 Points table:
1) Pakistan – 100%
2) India – 66.67%
3) Australia – 30%
4) West Indies – 16.67%
5) England – 15%#EnglandCricket #PakistanCricket #Indiacricket #WestIndies #AUSTRALIACRICKET. pic.twitter.com/y5a1an38hi
— DANIYAL SAFI (@DANIYALSAFI100) August 2, 2023
Pakistan and India on the top of WTC 3 points table pic.twitter.com/SfV3nXbkmP
— Ahmer Najeeb Satti (@AhmerNajeeb) August 2, 2023
England slips down to fifth position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, below West Indies after suffering a 19-point blow because of slow over-rate.#WTC25 https://t.co/sL9TWoVOMw pic.twitter.com/NWWII644Wm
— CricketMAN18 (@7Cricket_World) August 2, 2023
Pakistan is very weak compared to India in test cricket, Pakistan had the easiest schedule in last wtc cycle still they finished in bottom of wtc. Don’t let early success fool you Pakistan is going to finish at the bottom of wtc points table.
— ram dewani (@ramdewani1) July 27, 2023
Pakistan Top of the Points Table in WTC 2025. pic.twitter.com/k6EZmseHK1
— North Guy (@sunnykarim7) July 27, 2023
England earned 28 points in Ashes Series but lost 19 points due to slow over rate 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/j2ZZEzTpGz
— Fakhruu :^) 🏏 (@BajwaKehtaHaii) August 2, 2023
England lose 19 WTC points and Australia ten for slow over-rates during the Ashes will also help Pakistan to maintain this top spot, Pakistan tour to Australia later this year will be the key pic.twitter.com/pRaAMFglvD
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) August 2, 2023
In terms of the WTC, England would have ended with more points getting smashed 4-1 but maintaining an over rate of 15 overs per hour across the Ashes
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) August 2, 2023
#England have lost two-thirds of the #WorldTestChampionship points they earned in the #Ashes after bowling consistently slow over rates. #BenStokes’ side did not bowl at the required rate in four of the five Tests and have lost 19 of the 28 points they won for two wins and a draw
— Robert Smith (@OnyaDon) August 2, 2023