England’s cricketers fined 100 per cent of their match fee after Gabba defeat

Things just keep getting worse for the Poms, with an Aussie cricket great handing Joe Root and his teammates a whopping sanction.

Things just keep getting worse for the Poms.

England’s cricketers have been fined 100 per cent of their match fees and penalised five World Test Championship points for slow over-rates during the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Australia secured a nine-wicket victory at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon, taking an early 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

On day two, England was required to get through 98 overs of play at the Gabba, but only managed 84.

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On Saturday evening, the ICC confirmed that match referee David Boon had penalised England 100 per cent of their match fee for falling five overs short of the targets after adjusting for time allowances.

The tourists also penalised five World Test Championship points for the misdemeanour – under the competition’s playing conditions, teams are docked one point for each over they fall short of the targets.

Ben Stokes of England. Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“Gee England are doing well aren’t they, they re getting pumped on the ground and off the ground and in the hip pocket,” former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket.

Former umpire Simon Taufel warned about the impending sanction on Channel 7’s coverage on Saturday: “If you cast your mind back to day two where England only bowled 84 overs in the day across seven hours, by my calculations they might be seven or eight overs behind the over rate.

“What we do know is that fines generally don‘t work in cricket with over rates. The administrators have been struggling for some time to encourage teams to bowl at a quicker rate. Teams have to average 15 overs per hour in Test match cricket. In the World Test Championship, because there are points at stake, it really does make a difference to get through your overs and to be docked points like we have seen in Sheffield Shield matches can cost teams playing in finals.”

More bad news for England. They've been docked 5 points and 100% of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. When it rains it pours... #Ashes

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) December 11, 2021

England lose their entire match fee and docked five WTC points for slow over-rate. Fruitful few days in Brisbane#AUSvENG#Ashes

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 11, 2021

Last summer, Australia was fined 40 per cent of its match fee for a slow overrate during the Boxing Day Test match against India at the MCG.

The Aussies were also stripped of four World Test Championship points, which ultimately cost them a place in the Test Championship Final.

Meanwhile, Australian No. 5 batter Travis Head was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for “use of an audible obscenity” on the field.

During his masterful 152 in the first innings, Head was overheard on the stumps mics yelling an expletive after missing a delivery from England all-rounder Ben Stokes on day two. The 27-year-old South Australian admitted the offence and accepted the sanction.

The second Test between Australia and England gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.