England and New Zealand have each been fined 15% of their match fees and docked three World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Test in Christchurch. The penalties, announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), were imposed after both teams were found to be three overs short of their target, even after time allowances were accounted for.
The sanctions were applied under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct and Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions. Players are fined 5% of their match fees for every over their side falls short, and teams lose one WTC point per over.
Key Details of the Sanction
- Match referee David Boon, from the ICC Elite Panel, issued the penalties.
- England’s captain Ben Stokes and New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham pleaded guilty, avoiding a formal hearing.
- The charges were leveled by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Rod Tucker, along with third umpire Adrian Holdstock and fourth official Kim Cotton.
Impact on WTC Standings
The deductions are particularly damaging for New Zealand, who now drop to fifth place in the WTC standings with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 47.92%. With only two Tests remaining in this cycle against England, the inaugural WTC champions face slim chances of making it to the final.
England, despite their eight-wicket victory at Hagley Oval, remain out of contention for the 2025 WTC final.
Current WTC Standings
- India – 61.11%
- South Africa – 59.26%
- Australia – 57.69%
- Sri Lanka – 50.00%
- New Zealand – 47.92%
Road Ahead for New Zealand
To stay in contention for the WTC final at Lord’s in June 2025, New Zealand must:
- Secure back-to-back wins in their remaining two Tests against England.
- Depend on other favorable results in matches involving higher-ranked teams.
With tough fixtures ahead and a narrow path to qualification, New Zealand’s hopes for a second WTC final appear increasingly challenging.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of December 3, 2024. Developments in the WTC standings may affect the scenarios described.
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