England were fined 50 per cent of their match fee and deducted 12 points from the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings for maintaining a sluggish over-rate in the second Test loss to New Zealand at The Oval.According to an ICC release, England were found guilty of taking 12 runs short. As a result, their players were fined 50% of their match fees and the team lost 12 WTC points. The penalty moved England to 38 points in the WTC standings. They still ranked seventh, but their scoring average dropped from 34.72 to 26.38.As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel (which covers minimum over-rate infringements), if the side fails to bowl within the stipulated time, the player will be fined 5% of the match fee.Rule 16.11.2 of the World Test Championship Conditions of Play stipulates that a team will lose one championship point for every game they miss, resulting in England being deducted 12 points.The penalty came after England lost 253 runs to New Zealand at The Oval. On the fifth and final day, the visitors eliminated England for 209 runs in just 48 minutes.The series ended in a draw after England won the first Test at Lord’s, with the decider beginning in Nottingham on Thursday.England resumed the final day’s play at 182/5, chasing 463 runs, but New Zealand’s fast bowlers Matt Henry Run through the lower order. Henry took the last five wickets and ended up with 6/29 in the innings.Following 5/80 in the first innings, he took 11/109, the best figures by a New Zealand bowler against England in a Test match. This is also the first time in Henry’s 35 Test career that he has won 10 matches.
What aspect of the recent Test match impressed you the most?
The victory was New Zealand’s seventh Test victory in England in 95 years and their second at the Oval in 1999.
