England docked WTC points for slow over-rate at Lord’s

England have been subjected to a fine and docked two World Test Championship points for their slow over-rate in the Test victory against India at Lord’s. The hosts, led by Ben Stokes, beat India by 22 runs during the third Test on Monday to fetch a 2-1 series lead.

In a five-day Test, 90 overs are scheduled for each day and teams can attract punishment for failing to bowl 15 overs in an hour. On the second day of the Test when India went to Stumps at 145-3, 72.3 overs were sent down – resulting in 15 overs being taken away from the match due to slow play. Match referee Richie Richardson adjudged that England, even with time allowances factored, were two overs short of the target.

Captain Stokes accepted the verdict, with the England team losing 10% of their match fee as a result. The docked points mean England have stumbled from second to third in the World Test Championship standings for the current cycle from 2025-27, with Sri Lanka the usurper.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” the ICC said in statement.

This is not the first instance this year of England bearing the brunt for their slow over-rate.
They were docked 22 points during the 2023-25 cycle. Stokes put the problem down to their use of pace bowlers – who require longer run-ups.

The fourth Test between England and India begins at Old Trafford in Manchester on 23 July.