NZ captain Tom Latham backs Ben Stokes’ criticism of over-rate penalties in Test cricket: ‘Not an issue in subcontinent’

Stokes had said ‘he has not signed an over-rate sheet since Lord’s in the Ashes’ in protest and Latham concurred that pace-dominant Test matches make it tougher to follow those norms. “It’s certainly a challenge to get through those 15 overs an hour if the ball’s flying to the boundary a little bit more than usual,” Latham said on Thursday. “We’ve seen in the subcontinent where a lot of spin’s used, where that isn’t necessarily an issue. But maybe that’s something that does need to be reviewed because we’re certainly try our best, and no team wants to be behind in the over-rate. It certainly is a challenge.”

Both England and New Zealand were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test in Christchurch. Both teams have been fined 15% of their match fees and penalised three World Test Championship competition points. David Boon, the match referee, imposed the sanctions after both Ben Stokes and Tom Latham’s sides were ruled to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short.

Stokes revealed that he had been refusing to sign over-rate sheets as a protest. “The frustration stems back to the Ashes,” he said in Wellington ahead of Friday’s start to the second test. It’s been over a year now since I made some comments about the over-rates to the match referee and umpires, and to this day we’re yet to hear any response back from the ICC.” to be behind in the over-rate. It certainly is a challenge.”

Both England and New Zealand were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test in Christchurch. Both teams have been fined 15% of their match fees and penalised three World Test Championship competition points. David Boon, the match referee, imposed the sanctions after both Ben Stokes and Tom Latham’s sides were ruled to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short.

Stokes revealed that he had been refusing to sign over-rate sheets as a protest. “The frustration stems back to the Ashes,” he said in Wellington ahead of Friday’s start to the second test. It’s been over a year now since I made some comments about the over-rates to the match referee and umpires, and to this day we’re yet to hear any response back from the ICC.”