Australia Faces Major Penalties After Darwin Test Loss
Australia’s cricket team may face big penalties from the International Cricket Council (ICC). This follows their nine-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the Darwin Test match. The team could pay large fines and lose important World Test Championship points.
Australian players bowled fewer overs than required on the second day of the match. They completed only 86 overs instead of the planned 90 overs. This slow play has put them at risk of punishment.
ICC rules state that teams must bowl 15 overs per hour in a Test match. This means a minimum of 90 overs each day. If a team bowls less than this, the ICC can fine them.
Each Australian player earns 20,000 Australian dollars as a match fee. The penalty is five percent of this fee for every over short. Australia bowled four overs less. So, each player could pay a 4,000 Australian dollar fine. This means the team could face a total fine of 44,000 Australian dollars.
On top of the financial penalties, Australia might also lose four points in the World Test Championship. Australia currently leads the points table. Losing points could affect their position greatly.
Bangladesh also bowled slowly in Australia’s first innings. However, they avoided a penalty. ICC rules state that a penalty does not apply. This is if the batting team is out in less than 80 overs. Australia was bowled out in just 53 overs.
This rule saved Australia during the Ashes series last year. But it does not apply this time for them. Bangladesh batted for 138 overs in their first innings. This puts Australia at risk for their slow bowling.
A similar incident happened in 2020. Australia lost four points for a slow over rate in the Boxing Day Test. That penalty stopped them from reaching the Test Championship final in 2021. The match referee in Darwin may consider the hot weather conditions. This could be Australia’s only hope to avoid the full penalty.
