New Zealand and England have been penalized for slow over-rates during the Christchurch Test, dealing a blow to New Zealand’s World Test Championship (WTC) ambitions. Both teams were fined 15% of their match fees and docked three WTC points for being three overs behind schedule in the first Test.
For England, the penalties don’t impact their standings much, as they are already out of the running for the 2025 WTC final. However, it’s a significant setback for New Zealand. They have dropped from fourth to fifth place in the standings, with their points percentage falling to 47.92%. Even if they win the remaining two matches of the series, their maximum points percentage would be 55.36%, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on favorable results from other teams.
Mitchell Santner ready to return to NZ squad for the England clash!
The penalties were determined after accounting for time allowances, with one WTC point deducted per shortfall. Both captains, Tom Latham and Ben Stokes, admitted to the breach and accepted the sanctions, avoiding the need for a formal hearing. Match officials Ahsan Raza, Rod Tucker, Adrian Holdstock, and Kim Cotton noted the infractions, and ICC Elite Panel referee David Boon imposed the fines and point deductions.
New Zealand now faces an uphill battle to secure a spot in the WTC final at Lord’s in June 2025.
