 has dramatically reduced fines for players maintaining slow over-rates in Test cricket. The changes are as follows: players will be fined 5 per cent of their match fee for every each over short their team fall in the field, up to a maximum of 50 per cent, rather than 100. In addition, if a team is bowled out before the new ball is available at 80 overs, then there will be no over-rate penalty applied. However, the ICC will continue to dock teams points in the World Test Championship if they maintain a slow over-rate. The issue has been in sharp focus during the thrilling ongoing men's Ashes series. After the first Test, both teams were fined 40 per cent of their match fees. After the second, England were fined their entire match fees (upwards of £12,500). The ICC has agreed that the new regulations will be retrospectively applied to this series, so England will not be as harshly punished as initially thought. On the surface, this might look like the ICC are following their umpires' lead and going soft on over-rates. That may be true in part, but, really, there is a bit more to it than that. Really, as so often, this is about T20 cricket. It is often felt that over-rate fines do not work because the players earn enough money not to care. That may be true in some cases, but is not universal. At a time when Test cricket is desperately fighting for relevance, and attempting to keep its players interested while the lifestyle lure and financial pull of T20 leagues is so strong, it is felt in the corridors of power that simply not paying players to play Test cricket is a bad idea. Players will follow the money towards T20 cricket – especially if they toil for five days and receive nothing for it. It is hard to deny that Test cricket can still be entertaining when a slow over-rate is maintained. All three Ashes matches have reached a natural conclusion. At Headingley, the Test was played in fast forward, with the longest innings lasti){kind=link}
Cricket governing body is looking to maintain attraction of Tests to players who could easily swan off and play more lucrative T20s
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dramatically reduced fines for players maintaining slow over-rates in Test cricket.
The changes are as follows: players will be fined 5 per cent of their match fee for every each over short their team fall in the field, up to a maximum of 50 per cent, rather than 100. In addition, if a team is bowled out before the new ball is available at 80 overs, then there will be no over-rate penalty applied. However, the ICC will continue to dock teams points in the World Test Championship if they maintain a slow over-rate.
The issue has been in sharp focus during the thrilling ongoing men’s Ashes series. After the first Test, both teams were fined 40 per cent of their match fees. After the second, England were fined their entire match fees (upwards of £12,500). The ICC has agreed that the new regulations will be retrospectively applied to this series, so England will not be as harshly punished as initially thought.
On the surface, this might look like the ICC are following their umpires’ lead and going soft on over-rates. That may be true in part, but, really, there is a bit more to it than that.