'Let’s be honest...': Michael Vaughan cries foul as ICC docks England's WTC points

Michael Vaughan cries foul as ICC docks England's WTC points (BCCI Photo)

England won the third Test against India by 22 runs at Lord's on Monday, handing them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. However, poor over rate saw two World Test Championship (WTC) points. Following the game, the home team was also fined 10 percent of the match fees. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, was not pleased with ICC's action and quietly accused the highest authority of bias and also questioned how India got away with it.

England were penalized two WTC points by the ICC on Wednesday for a slow over-rate during the Lord's Test. This occurred in accordance with ICC World Test Championship playing standards Article 16.11.2, which penalizes a team one point for each over short, once time allowances are taken into account.

Also Read | Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir face heat on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload: ‘Hum toh peeche reh gaye'

England's WTC points total dropped from 24 to 22 out of 36 with the deduction, meaning their point percentage decreased from 66.67-61.11 percent. England suffered much more as a result, falling from second to third place in the standings, replaced by Sri Lanka.

Both teams, in Vaughan's opinion, shared equal blame for the over-rate at Lord's. However, he was left perplexed and questioned the reasoning behind sparing India while only England getting reprimanded.

“Let’s be honest both teams over rates at Lords were very very poor .. How only 1 team has been reprimanded is beyond me .. #ENGvsIND,” he posted on X.

Let’s be honest both teams over rates at Lords were very very poor .. How only 1 team has been reprimanded is beyond me .. #ENGvsIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 16, 2025

England were not only docked World Test Championship (WTC) points but also fined 10 per cent of their match fees. The penalty was imposed under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. According to the rule, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time.

Stokes pleaded guilty and agreed to the penalties that Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees had issued. The fourth Test of the five-match series will get underway in Manchester next week.