Australia docked four WTC points and 40% match fees for slow Overrate

Australia have been fined 40% of their match fees and four World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate in the Melbourne Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Even though the second Test between India and Australia ended in little over three days, the ICC haven’t given any leniency to the rule, ensuring Australia dock four important World Test Championship points from their already-accumulated points.

According to the revised ICC regulations, teams are docked two points and 20 percent of their match fee for each over that the team fails to bowl in the allotted time. And thus Australia, for their two-over delay, has been docked a substantial amount from the salary and four points from the WTC standings.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” the ICC release said.

“In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised two points for each over short. Consequently, four World Test Championship points have been deducted from Australia’s points in total.”

Australia pleaded guilty to offence

Australian skipper Tim Paine has pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction levelled against his team. Thus there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Paul Wilson and fourth umpire Gerard Abood.