Michael Vaughan Questions ICC’s Partiality After England Penalised for Slow Over Rate at Lord’s
The ICC’s decision to dock England two World Test Championship (WTC) points for a slow over rate in the thrilling Lord’s Test against India has triggered controversy — with former England captain Michael Vaughan leading the chorus of criticism.
Vaughan didn’t mince words on social media, stating that both teams were guilty of maintaining a poor over rate and questioning why only England was penalised.
“Let’s be honest both teams’ over rates at Lord’s were very, very poor… How only one team has been reprimanded is beyond me,” Vaughan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
ICC’s Action Against England
Following their 22-run victory over India, England had moved to second place in the WTC table with 24 points. But the ICC’s penalty of two points for the slow over rate has seen them drop to third, with 22 points and a revised points percentage of 61.11%.
In addition to the points deduction, the England players were also fined 10% of their match fees for the offence. The punishment was handed under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which penalizes teams for each over they fall short after all time allowances are considered.
The deduction was also enforced under Article 16.11.2 of the WTC Playing Conditions, which states that a team loses one WTC point for each over short.
Unanswered Questions Around India’s Over Rate
Vaughan’s point gained traction online as many observers questioned why the Indian team, which also bowled slowly during certain sessions, was not held accountable. While official match documents suggest England were short by two overs, there is speculation that India could have also fallen short, sparking calls for consistency in applying regulations.
Impact on WTC Standings
As per the updated standings:
- Australia sits at the top with a perfect 100% win record (3 wins from 3 matches).
- Sri Lanka climbs to second following England’s penalty.
- England drops to third with 22 points from 3 matches (61.11%).
- India stands fourth with 33.33%, having won just one Test from the series so far.
- Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa follow, with the latter three yet to begin their WTC 2025-27 campaign.
The controversy has ignited a debate over the fairness and uniformity of WTC penalties. With high-stakes series like India vs England attracting global attention, calls are growing for more transparent and consistent governance from the ICC.
