‘Cost them dearly’: England players fined $300,000 for slow over-rate at Gabba Test

England’s cricketers were fined an eye-watering sum after an Aussie great pinged them for a sloppy over-rate during the Gabba Test.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 09: Joe Root of England looks on during day two of the First Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 09, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The England cricket team reportedly lost $300,000 for their “horrible” over-rate during the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.

On Saturday evening, the International Cricket Council 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.

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

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Speaking on Fox Cricket’s The Follow-On podcast, veteran News Corp reporter Robert Craddock revealed the staggering figure England’s cricketers were fined due to their sloppiness in the field.

“There were so many fieldsmen running on with helmets and towels and everything,” he said.

“I have to say, there were a couple of days in there which were really exhausting … but just the collaboration between overs, the wasting of the time on basic field placement was terrible.

“And it cost them dearly. They get paid $27,000 each a Test, and they lost the lot. That’s a collective fine of about $300,000.”

Craddock also suggested the punishment could force England to reconsider selecting a five-man pace attack for this week’s Adelaide day-night Test.

“It puts them in a prison for the team they are selecting for Adelaide,” he explained.

“How could you lose all your match fee, five World Cup points and then not choose a spinner in a game for Adelaide? It’s putting so much pressure on them to choose Jack Leach again, this horrible over-rate in Brisbane. It’s interesting where they go from here.”

England lost the first Test by nine wickets. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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

Last summer, Australia was fined 40 per cent of its match fee for a slow over-rate 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 World Test Championship Final against New Zealand.

“What we do know is that fines generally don‘t work in cricket with over rates,” former umpire Simon Taufel told Channel 7 on Saturday.

“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.”

Joe Root speaking to media at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the ICC handed Australian batter Travis Head a 15 per cent match fee for “use of an audible obscenity” on the field.

During his masterful 152 in the first innings against England, Head was overheard on the stump mics yelling an expletive after missing a delivery from Stokes on day two – an incident that was picked up by Boon.

The 27-year-old South Australian admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, but some cricket pundits were unimpressed with the punishment.

Although Head was guilty of the misdemeanour, many fans suggested that players should be allowed to vent their frustration on the field without repercussion.

In 2018, the ICC controversially decided to allow stump microphones to be broadcast at all times, and several players have been scolded for on-field obscenities in the years since – most notably Jos Buttler and Tim Paine.

The second Ashes Test gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm AEDT.