England fined ICC WTC 5 points, entire match fee for slow over rate in first Ashes Test

Brisbane: England have been penalised five ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 100 per cent of their match fees for maintaining slow over rates in the first Ashes Test against Australia.

Match referee David Boon penalized England 100 per cent of their match fee for falling five overs short of the targets after adjusting time allowances.

As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are charged 20 per cent of their match fee for every over the team falls short on.

Travis Head, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, has also been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "use of an audible obscenity during an International Match".

The Australian also received one demerit point, which is his first offence in a 24-month period. According to the Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is docked one point for each over short.

The incident occurred in the 77th over of Australia’s first innings, when Head used inappropriate language after being beaten by England's Ben Stokes. There was no formal hearing after Head admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions.

Australia defeated England by nine wickets on the fourth day of the first Test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba). The teams will clash in the second Test match from December 16 to 20 at the Adelaide Oval. (UNI)