Ashes 2021-22: England lose five WTC points for slow over rate, Travis Head fined for using abusive words

England have been fined 100 percent of their match fees and penalised five ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining slow over-rates in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Australia’s Travis Head has also been fined 15% of his match fee for use of an audible obscenity. As per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is docked one point for each over short.

Match referee David Boon has also penalized England 100% of their match fee for falling five overs short of the targets after adjusting for time allowances. Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel charges players 20% of their match fee for every over the team falls short on.

The Player of the Match from the first Test, Head was fined 15% of his match fee for breaching Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, relating to “use of an audible obscenity during an International Match.” He also received one demerit point, which is his first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 77th over of Australia’s first innings, when Head used inappropriate language after being beaten by Ben Stokes. There was no formal hearing after the southpaw admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions.

Australia thrash England by 9 wickets in the 1st Ashes Test

Australia won the first Test of the Ashes comfortably by 9 wickets. The hosts reduced England to 147 on the opening day before a sensational knock of 152 from just 148 balls by Head propelled them to 425, with a lead of 278 runs.

Resistance from Joe Root and Dawid Malan took England through to stumps on day three but the rest of the batting line-up crumbled in the first session of day four, setting Australia a target of 20. They lost Carey off the penultimate delivery of the match but Marcus Harris finished the game off with a four as Australia took the 1-0 lead.

The next Test is set to commence on 16 December at the Adelaide Oval.