16 Jul, 2025 | 08:07 PM

England’s narrow 22-run victory in the third Test against India at Lord’s came at a cost, as the team has been penalised for maintaining a slow over rate. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has docked England two World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined players 10% of their match fees for the infraction.

The deduction sees England drop from second to third place on the WTC points table, with their tally reduced from 24 to 22 points. More significantly, their percentage of points has fallen from 66.67% to 61.11%, allowing both Australia and Sri Lanka to move ahead in the standings.

The penalty was enforced under Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions, which stipulates that teams will lose one point for every over they fall short after considering all time allowances. England captain Ben Stokes accepted the sanction, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.

Despite the disciplinary setback, the third Test at Lord’s was widely hailed as one of the most captivating contests in recent memory. Both teams posted identical first-innings scores of 387, setting the stage for a tense and evenly-matched battle. England eventually set India a target of 193 runs, and the visitors fought valiantly, dragging the game into the final session with critical lower-order partnerships involving Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.

The dramatic climax came when Shoaib Bashir, bowling with a fractured finger on his left hand, dismissed Siraj to seal England’s victory and give them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The emotional finale left Indian hopes dashed, while England celebrated a hard-fought win.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Bashir has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to his injury. He will be replaced by left-arm spinner Liam Dawson for the fourth Test, scheduled to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford.