Published: 2025-07-16 09:56:03 | Views: 8
Ben Stokes and England have been dealt an unwanted blow following their dramatic victory over India on Monday. The home side took a 2-1 lead in the series after bowling India out during the final session of Day Five of the third Test.
It came during a tense Test match at Lord's, with England and India players having come to blows on several occasions. Mohammed Siraj, who was the victim of a freakish dismissal that ended the game, had been fined earlier in the Test for celebrating in front of England opener Ben Duckett.
Meanwhile, England bowler Brydon Carse clashed with India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on the final day, after the pair inadvertently bumped into each other. However, the fallout from the explosive third Test has continued well after stumps, with England having been handed a punishment for slow over-rate.
A statement released on the ICC website said: "England have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee and penalised two ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against India in the third Test at Lord’s. Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after England were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
"In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, two World Test Championship points have been deducted from England’s points total."
Before concluding: "England captain Ben Stokes pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing."
England were slowed down on the final day, given specialist spinner, Shoaib Bashir, broke his finger during India's first innings. Bashir, who battled through the pain and continued to bowl in the second innings, has since pulled out of the squad and will miss the remainder of the series.
Liam Dawson has been called up in his place, ending an eight-year exile from the longest format of the game for the Hampshire bowler. He'll most likely make up part of the XI when England take on India at Old Trafford for the fourth Test later this month. A win for England would confirm their first series victory over India since 2018.