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In a thrilling encounter at the hallowed Lord’s Cricket Ground, England secured a tense 22-run victory over India in the third Test of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. However, the joy of victory came with a sting as the International Cricket Council (ICC) penalized England by docking two points from their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 tally for maintaining a slow over rate during the match. This sanction affected England’s position on the WTC points table and resulted in a financial penalty for the players as well.
England’s epic win over India at Lord’s on Day 5 of the third Test
The Lord’s Test was a high-octane, gripping contest marked by outstanding individual performances and team resilience. Both teams posted identical first-innings scores of 387, setting the stage for a dramatic second-innings showdown. England’s fierce bowling attack, led by Jofra Archer’s blistering pace spell and remarkable catch, kept the Indian batting lineup under pressure. On the batting front, England’s Joe Root crafted a crucial century, countering equally superb efforts from India’s KL Rahul.
The run chase set India a challenging target of 193 runs. The Indian lower order tried valiantly with important partnerships forged by Ravindra Jadeja alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, keeping hopes alive until the final session. The crucial breakthrough came when England’s Shoaib Bashir, despite a broken finger, took a dramatic wicket to end the game and set off jubilant celebrations on the home side. This hard-fought win gave England the edge in the series, building immense momentum ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Ben Stokes accepts punishment for the first slow over fallout of the cycle
Despite the thrilling victory, England faced a setback as the ICC took strict action for maintaining a slow over rate during the match. After considering time allowances, England were ruled two overs short of the required bowling rate under Article 16.11.2 of the ICC WTC playing conditions. Consequently, England were penalized with a deduction of two WTC points, dropping their tally from 24 to 22 out of 36 possible points and reducing their points percentage from 66.67% to 61.11%. This penalty caused England to slip from second to third place on the WTC standings behind Australia and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the players were fined 10% of their match fees, as stipulated by Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which mandates a five percent fine per over short. England captain Ben Stokes, who was awarded Player of the Match for his all-around performance, accepted full responsibility for the slow over rate and pleaded guilty to the offence. His acceptance of the sanction meant there was no formal hearing, and the penalty was confirmed by Richie Richardson of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
This incident highlights the strict enforcement of over-rate regulations in Test cricket, reminding teams of the importance of maintaining the required pace of play alongside competitive intensity. While England’s performance on the field was commendable, the over-rate penalty serves as a cautionary note in their pursuit of WTC glory.
Here’s the updated World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 Points Table:
| Rank | Team | M | W | L | T | D | N/R | PT | PCT | Series Form | Next Fixtures |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 | W – W – W | – |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 | D – W | – |
| 3 | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 66.67 | W – L – W | vs IND, IND |
| 4 | India | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 33.33 | L – W – L | vs ENG, ENG, WI |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 | D – L | – |
| 6 | West Indies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | L – L – L | vs IND, IND, NZ |
| – | New Zealand | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | vs WI, WI, WI |
| – | Pakistan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| – | South Africa | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | vs IND, IND |
