Usman Khawaja lashes out after Australia and England hit with Ashes sanctions

The ICC has hit both Australia and England with some significant sanctions in the wake of a dramatic Ashes series.

Wed, 2 Aug 2023, 6:56 pm·4-min read

Pictured left is Usman Khawaja during the Ashes series. — Usman Khawaja has hit out after Australia and England were both his with sanctions for slow over rates during the Ashes series. Pic: Getty

Aussie batter Usman Khawaja has hit out at the governing body of world cricket after a raft of sanctions were handed down in the wake of a dramatic Ashes series. Australia and England thrilled the cricket world during an absorbing and controversial five-Test series that ended in a 2-2 draw - a result that was good enough for the Aussies to retain the Ashes as holders.

However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has slugged the hosts and Australia with a range of penalties for maintaining slow over-rates throughout the series. Ben Stokes' England side copped the lion's share of sanctions after being docked 19 points from their World Test Championship (WTC) tally.

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England's series would have seen them gain 28 points - 24 for two wins and four for a draw. Following the sanctions, however, they finished with just nine points to sit below the West Indies in the WTC standings, despite the latter remaining winless after playing just two matches in the latest period, which runs from 2023-2025.

Both teams also received fines as a percentage of their match fees, due to the slow over rates throughout the series. The English were hit with "10 per cent for the first Test, 45 per cent for the second, 15 per cent for the fourth and 25 per cent for the fifth," according to the ICC.

In contrast, the Aussies were deducted half of their match fee for being 10 overs in the washed-out fourth Test at Old Trafford. The ICC docked teams one WTC point for every over they were short, with 90 overs typically required to be bowled in a day.

Usman Khawaja not happy about ICC sanctions

Players were also docked five percent of their match fees for every over the team was behind. Khawaja last month revealed he had approached the ICC about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in Tests after the governing body announced it had decided to soften sanctions. The Aussie batter said it was "really frustrating" for players to lose their match fees despite delivering entertaining spectacles.

Seen here, Usman Khawaja in practice with the Aussie cricket side during the Ashes series in England. — Usman Khawaja is seen here in practice with the Aussie cricket side during the Ashes series in England. Pic: Getty

Khawaja was once again scathing of the ICC's decision to dock his side 10 WTC points and half of its match fee at Manchester, considering rain wiped away two whole days, meaning the Aussies only bowled once. "Don't even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and @ICC still issue fines and take 10 WTC points off us for slow over rates! That makes a lot of sense," he tweeted sarcastically.

Don't even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and @ICC still issue fines and take 10 WTC points of us for slow over rates! That makes a lot of sense... 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/NKuGI61n2n
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) August 2, 2023

Australia famously missed out on qualifying for the 2021 WTC final - ultimately won by New Zealand - after copping a four-point deduction from the 2020 Boxing Day Test against India. The Aussies brushed off that disappointment to seal victory against India in the WTC final earlier this year, with the reigning champions currently third in the latest standings. England are fifth.