England’s World Test Championship points, which they gained from the recently concluded Ashes series, have taken a hit due to a series of slow over rates. This has led to the loss of two-thirds of their hard-earned points. Led by Ben Stokes, the English side failed to maintain the required rate in four out of the five Tests, leading to the deduction of 19 points from the 28 they earned for two victories and a draw.

Australia also faced the consequences of their sluggish over rate, which occurred in the fourth Test, causing them to lose 10 points as a result. Both England and Australia players have been fined 5% of their match fee for each point lost, underscoring the seriousness of the matter.

The penalty system operates on the basis of deducting one point for every over a team falls short. England suffered a deduction of two points for two missing overs at Edgbaston, nine from the Lord’s Test, three at Old Trafford, and five at The Oval.

The Test Championship format entails teams accumulating points from each Test they play over a two-year cycle. The top two teams will eventually face off in a one-off match to determine the ultimate Championship winner.

As the third edition of the Test Championship gets underway, England currently holds the fifth spot in the early standings, while Australia ranks third. Pakistan stands at the top after their impressive series win against Sri Lanka.

In the previous 2021 – 2023 competition, Australia emerged victorious, triumphing over India by a resounding 209 runs at The Oval in June. As the new cycle commences, teams will be eager to perform at their best and secure valuable points on their journey towards the coveted Test Championship title, with the final set to take place in 2025.

Leon Osamor