The 2021-22 edition of the Ashes went underway on 08th of December with Australia defending their title. The Australian bowlers went all guns blazing and the English batsmen looked clueless as they were wrapped up on a paltry 147 in the first inning, which ultimately became the cause of their fall in the first match. Apart from the loss, the England team sustained another blow as ICC fined England 100 percent of the Gabba Test fees.
The English batsman looked out of touch in the opening Test of the Ashes series and their bowlers couldn’t work their magic too. It was a double blow for the visitors as ICC fined England after their loss for slow over-rate according to the Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which is related to the minimum over-rate offences. The England team was found five overs short of the overs they were supposed to complete in the allocated time.
ICC fined England for slow over-rate
The rules in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle are stringent and any team that bowls one over short in the allotted time is going to pay the price in the form of one crucial WTC point. ICC fined England 100 percent of the Gabba Test fees, plus 5 WTC points for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test of the Ashes which the English team lost within 4 days.
The penalty was not limited to the English team as the hero of the first Test for Australia, Travis Head was also charged for breaching the Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which is related to use of an audible obscenity during an international match. Head was found guilty of the same and the charges were levelled by the on-field umpires and other officials.
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Australia and England will lock horns in the second contest of the Ashes in Adelaide which will commence on 16th December. England will look to fightback, while Australia will try to dominate the series by winning the second match as well.