England Test captain Ben Stokes criticized the ICC for sanctioning teams over slow over rates. After the first Test in Christchurch, both England and New Zealand were penalized three WTC points and fined 15% of their match fees.
An ICC statement on Tuesday, December 3, confirmed that both Stokes and Tom Latham accepted the match referee’s charges, avoiding a formal hearing. However, Stokes expressed his dissatisfaction through an Instagram story.
The teams fell three overs short as the Test ended on Day 4, with England comfortably chasing a 104-run target in 13 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“Good on you ICC. Finished the game with 10 hours of play still left,” Stokes wrote on Instagram.
England were eliminated from the WTC final race following their recent 1-2 series loss to Pakistan away from home.
England have lost 22 points in the ongoing WTC cycle
The Ben Stokes-led team has been the hardest hit by the ICC’s strict over-rate rules. They have already been docked 22 points in this cycle, with the bulk (19 points) being deducted during their first assignment—a five-match Ashes series at home against Australia.
The skipper described the WTC concept as ‘utterly confusing’ before the series opener against New Zealand.
“In all honesty, the World Test Championship, it is a bit confusing, it’s one of those where, you know we don’t really look at it, I don’t look at it. It’s one of those where over a long period of time if you’re playing really good cricket, you’re getting results that you want, you’ll end up finding yourself there in the final and in the mix,” Stokes had told media (via the Indian Express).
England have played the most matches in the current WTC cycle, featuring in 20 Tests so far. They have accumulated 102 points with a win percentage of 42.50, placing them sixth in the standings. The second Test against New Zealand begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday, December 6.
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