England and Australia Penalized with WTC Point Deduction and Fine for Slow Over-Rates | Ashes 2023 | The Guardian

Following their thrilling Ashes opener at Edgbaston, both England and Australia have been fined 40% of their match fees and have had two World Test Championship points deducted due to slow over-rates during the game.

Despite delivering a breathless finish in Birmingham, both teams failed to get through their overs quickly enough leading to the guilty pleas of captains Ben Stokes and Pat Cummins. The International Cricket Council confirmed that they accepted the proposed sanctions and therefore avoided a formal hearing.

As this was the first game in the new WTC cycle, England's reward for their attacking tactics in moving the game towards a dramatic conclusion, despite multiple long rain delays, is to sit on minus two in the table. Australia initially picked up 12 points for their Cummins-inspired win but dropped back to 10 following the penalty.

Additionally, all 22 players have lost 40% of their match fees amounting to around £6,000 for the English contingent.

Further information will be released in due course.