In the five Ashes Test matches played in England against Australia, which tied the series 2-2, cricket fans were treated to some thrilling cricketing action.
Considering how well-played cricket was played by both teams and how little room they gave their opponents, many people thought the score was a fair one.
The fierce rivals faced penalties from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which deducted them from crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points, despite receiving praise from the cricket community for their performance. While England lost a whopping 19 points for sustaining sluggish over-rates during the Ashes, Australia was penalised 10 WTC points for the 2023–2025 cycle.
Only the third Test at Headingley allowed Ben Stokes‘ team to meet the over-rate requirement. In the first four Tests, they separately dropped two, nine, three, and five points. At Old Trafford, the fourth Test, which concluded in a tie after numerous rain delays, Australia, on the other side, lost its 10 points.
The ICC has been tough with over-rate offences; a team loses one WTC point for each over that isn’t delivered inside the allotted time, taking any delays into account. After the deductions, a significant gap has developed between Australia and England on the WTC table, despite the fact that they both gained the same number of points (28) from the Ashes.
According to the points system, Australia is ranked third with a PCT of 30. However, England only received a PCT of 15, and as a result, they are currently ranked No. 5 behind the West Indies, who dropped both of their Test matches against India at home.
Pakistan and India benefit.
With a two-match series victory over Sri Lanka away from home, Pakistan enjoyed a bright start to their WTC 2023–2025 cycle. A perfect PCT of 100 is held by the Babar Azam-led team. India, on the other side, won the first Test while drawing the second because of rain, and the team defeated West Indies 1-0 in their away series. A PCT of 66.67 applies to them.
The Asian giants have unquestionably benefited from England and Australia’s significant point losses because they now lead the standings by a wide margin. However, the third WTC cycle has only begun, so more unexpected developments are probably going to happen.
Twitter responded as follows:
Pakistan and India on the top of WTC 3 points table pic.twitter.com/SfV3nXbkmP
— Ahmer Najeeb Satti (@AhmerNajeeb) August 2, 2023
England slips down to fifth position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, below West Indies after suffering a 19-point blow because of slow over-rate.#WTC25 https://t.co/sL9TWoVOMw pic.twitter.com/NWWII644Wm
— CricketMAN18 (@7Cricket_World) August 2, 2023
England lose 19 WTC points and Australia ten for slow over-rates during the Ashes will also help Pakistan to maintain this top spot, Pakistan tour to Australia later this year will be the key pic.twitter.com/pRaAMFglvD
— Abdul Ghaffar
(@GhaffarDawnNews) August 2, 2023
England earned 28 points in Ashes Series but lost 19 points due to slow over rate
pic.twitter.com/j2ZZEzTpGz
— Fakhruu :^)
(@BajwaKehtaHaii) August 2, 2023
Just got to know that England and Australia have lost points for slow over rate in WTC table.
As things stand now, a WTC Final between Pakistan and England will be pinnacle of new age Test cricket. Also, the pace bowling competition in English conditions.
pic.twitter.com/5aNdD6LsBe
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) August 2, 2023
India
