India vs England: Hosts fined for over-rate, Vaughan calls out hypocrisy
A mere look at the proceedings during the initial days of the Lord's Test was enough to suggest that the teams were likely to incur an over-rate fine. By the third day of the third India vs England Test, the Dukes ball, with its erratic nature, had halted play multiple times. Now, with the fixture having ended in England's favour, the hosts have been handed a 10% fine for maintaining a slow over-rate in the five-day game. The ICC has also docked two WTC points from England’s tally, in addition to the 10% deduction from the team’s match fees. However, the fact that only England has come under the ICC’s scrutiny has not gone down well with former England skipper Michael Vaughan.
The thrilling run of the third India vs England Test
The third India vs England Test proved to be a gripping contest. The initial days at Lord's saw both bowling units troubled by the Dukes ball. India, bowling first in the match, raised concerns about the ball’s condition on Day 2. Upon inspection by the umpires, the ball failed the gauge test and was replaced, despite being only 10 overs old. The condition of the cherry used in the series has now become a major point of contention.
As the turn came for England to bowl, the hosts faced similar troubles, constantly asking the on-field umpires for a change in the ball. Day 3 of the Lord’s Test saw yet another interruption, this time prompted by England’s request for a ball change midway through a session. Notably, the appeal came right after the scheduled drinks break, sparking curiosity about the timing. What followed was a delay lasting more than seven minutes, as the umpires meticulously examined multiple replacement balls before finally selecting one and handing it to Chris Woakes.
The day also saw Zak Crawley deliberately slowing down proceedings in the final session as he tried to shield himself from India’s attack. The last over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, featured significant drama as Shubman Gill confronted Crawley over his tactics, displaying visible aggression. The match, which went down to the final session of Day 5, ended with India falling short by 22 runs. Despite a tenacious fight from Ravindra Jadeja, the visitors couldn't chase down the target, with Mohammed Siraj falling to an unfortunate dismissal as the last wicket.
Michael Vaughan highlights the inconsistency in ICC's ruling as England endure over-rate fine for the Lord's Test
Now, the hosts have claimed a 2-1 lead in the five-match India vs England series. With 2 fixtures remaining, India will be fighting first to level and subsequently take a lead in the upcoming matches. However, before the series moves ahead to Manchester, the ICC has slapped a fine at England for maintaining slow over-rate in the Lord's Test. England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes, have been handed a 10 percent deduction in match fees and docked two ICC WTC points. India, however, emerged unscathed, facing no penalties.
The sanctions were confirmed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. The punishment was decided after it was determined that England fell two overs short of the required quota, even after time allowances were considered. According to ICC regulations, teams are fined five percent of their match fee for every over not completed within the allotted time and lose one WTC point per over short.
In this instance, England’s shortfall resulted in a 10 percent financial penalty for the players and the forfeiture of two critical WTC points. The English skipper, Ben Stokes, who delivered a stellar all-round performance in the match, accepted the ruling without objection. The ICC, in an official statement, noted that with Stokes pleading guilty there was no need for a formal hearing.
“Stokes pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.”
The charge was brought forward by on-field umpires for the third India vs England Test, Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid. Ahsan Raza served as the TV umpire, with Graham Lloyd fulfilling duties as the fourth official. In a tightly contested WTC cycle, the loss of two points could significantly impact England's position in the standings.
The decision, meanwhile, has drawn criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who hinted at inconsistency in the ICC's approach. Vaughan expressed confusion over why India faced no consequences despite both sides, in his view, contributing equally to the slow over-rate at Lord’s. He subtly suggested a double standard, questioning the ICC’s rationale in penalising only one team.
"Let’s be honest both teams over rates at Lords were very very poor .. How only 1 team has been reprimanded is beyond me," Vaughan wrote on X.
