Michael Vaughan Slams ICC After England Penalized for Slow Over Rate
By Tidbit Sports Desk
Published: July 16, 2025
Category: Cricket / Sports / ICC
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for penalizing only England for slow over rates during the recent India vs England Test at Lord’s. According to Vaughan, both teams were equally slow in completing their overs, but only England faced a deduction in World Test Championship (WTC) points.
On social media, Vaughan wrote that the over rates from both teams were "very, very poor" and said it made no sense for only one side to be punished. His comment has stirred debate among cricket fans, especially as this decision affected England’s WTC points table position.
England was found to be two overs short after time allowances and were docked two points, bringing their WTC score down from 24 to 22. Their points percentage also dropped from 66.67% to 61.11%, pushing them to third place behind Australia.
Along with the points deduction, England captain Ben Stokes was fined 10% of his match fee and accepted the ICC's ruling without a formal hearing. The ruling was made by match referee Richie Richardson under Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions.
This penalty came after England secured a thrilling 22-run win on the final day of the Test, taking a 2-1 lead in the series with one match left. Despite their win, the punishment overshadowed celebrations, as fans and former players questioned the ICC’s consistency.
Vaughan’s frustration reflects a growing concern that rules aren’t being applied evenly. Many now call for transparency in how over-rate penalties are calculated and why opposing teams in the same match aren’t held to the same standard.
📸 Image Credit
Image Credit: PTI via The Indian Express
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