England and Australia have both been docked two points off their World Test Championship tally for maintaining slow over rates in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

England and Australia have both been found guilty of being short of their over-rate targets in the Edgbaston classic, and have been consequently docked two points off their 2023-25 World Test Championship tallies.

According to Article 16.11.2 of the World Test Championship playing conditions, one point is to be deducted for every over a team falls short of the target.

Match referee Andy Pycroft ruled that both teams were two overs short of their targets in the first Ashes match Test even after taking time allowances into consideration. He docked them two points apiece.

This was the first match of the 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship. Australia now have 10 points (12 for the win, two deducted for the over-rate penalty), while England are in the negative, with minus two points.

According to 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined 20 per cent for each over that their team is found short of the over-rate target. Pycroft fined all 22 cricketers 40 percent of their match fees.

Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes, the two captains, accepted the sanctions, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.

Australia have had a long history with over-rate penalties in the World Test Championship. They had missed out on a final berth in 2019-21, and were fined along with India in the 2021-23 final a few days ago.

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