West Indies fined and docked points for slow over rate in England draw

Joe Root made an aggressive call to declare early in search of victory but the first Test ended all square

(Getty Images)

West Indies have been fined 40% of their match fee and docked two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining a slow over rate in their draw against England in the first test in Antigua, the sport’s governing body said on Monday.

Kraigg Brathwaite’s side were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration, with match referee Richie Richardson imposing the sanction.

Under the WTC playing conditions, players are fined 20% of their match fee for every over their side fail to bowl in the allotted time while the team are penalised one point for each over short.

The ICC added that Brathwaite acknowledged and accepted the ruling and sanctions.

The docked points mean that West Indies have slipped to eighth in the WTC standings, behind Bangladesh.

They are the third team to be penalised for a slow over rate during the 2021-23 WTC cycle, with India losing three points and England losing 10 so far.

In the drawn first test at the Vivian Richards Stadium, West Indies overcame a top-order collapse on the final day in North Sound to hold on and share the spoils with England.

The second test begins in Barbados on Wednesday before the series concludes in Grenada from March 24-28.

Reuters