Both teams were docked three World Test Championship (WTC) points with match fee fines of 15% across the board last week at Hagley Oval. New Zealand now faces a tougher task to reach the WTC final next year, dropping from fourth to fifth place in the table. England are sixth in the WTC, partly due to excessive fines that have seen them lose 22 points in the 2023-25 cycle, and lost 19 of the 28 points gained during the 2023 Ashes for similar reasons.
At the end of the first Test, Stokes was seen having a long conversation with match referee David Boon, who imposed the sanctions. Having initially expressed his displeasure at the punishment on his Instagram, Stokes took a media opportunity on Wednesday at Basin Reserve to explain his grievances ahead of the second Test, some of them retroactive to the Lord’s Test against Australia in 2023.
“The most frustrating thing, from both teams’ point of view, is that the game ended early, there was a result,” Stokes said. “But I think the frustration actually goes back to last year in The Ashes, where it was the first time I really mentioned it to the match referee and the umpires.
“I guess the most frustrating thing is that it’s always a problem depending on where you are in the world and what style of cricket is played. “There’s never a problem with overrating in Asia because of the amount of spin that’s played.
“There are so many tactical decisions you have to make, whether it’s chatting to the bowler or fielding changes. As captain, I like to change things up a lot and the pitch could be completely different six balls in an over. But that’s not taken into consideration. And just being told to “hurry up” isn’t going to solve the problem, because we’re playing a game.
“The times and the rules are the same anywhere in the world. From a player’s point of view – and I’m not the only one who shares this opinion – we would like to have much more communication with the ICC around this issue.”
ben stokes
“The times and the rules are the same wherever you go in the world. From a player’s point of view – and I’m not the only one who shares this opinion – we would like to have a lot more communication with the ICC around this issue. “.
The point regarding different playing speeds depending on the conditions and players predominantly used is a solid one. But it is worth noting that offspinner Shoaib Bashir bowled 20 of England’s 91 overs in the first innings of the first Test.
Stokes was particularly upset that having conveyed his thoughts on the need for a more flexible over-rating framework, particularly to mitigate in-game tactics, to match referee Andy Pycroft at the end of the Lord’s Test, he has yet to receive a response of the ICC. This despite the fact that they were told that a dialogue would be established.
Stokes revealed that he has not signed an overrating charge sheet (the match referee’s document confirming that a team is going to incur a penalty) since Lord’s as a mild form of protest.
“It’s a lesson that we’re going to have to take and that we’re going to have to learn from. It all comes down to putting in the effort, making sure that the guys are providing that energy and that the players are doing their job and that everyone is getting in position as much as possible. as quickly as possible.”
Jacob Oram
That said, he accepted the charges made in Christchurch by first umpires Ahsan Raza and Rod Tucker, third umpire Adrian Holdstock and fourth umpire Kim Cotton, as well as New Zealand captain Tom Latham.
“The two conversations I’ve had with the match officials have been really very good and the match officials have handled it very, very well and have been very understanding from a player’s point of view,” Stokes said. “But it’s been over a year since I made some comments about excessive rates and to this day we still haven’t heard any response from anyone at the ICC about it.
“I haven’t signed a markup sheet since Lord’s in the Ashes just until we hear some communication from the ICC which we’re still waiting for. Captains have to sign markup sheets and fines and stuff, but I’ve said ‘no’ until I had the conversations, but they take away the fines anyway.”
“Now there are results in most Test matches and runs are scored at a frenetic pace and wickets are falling everywhere, there is a lot of entertainment,” Oram said on Wednesday. “Whether you play 90 overs or 85 overs, there is a lot going on and I think we need to find a balance and get some understanding.
“It’s a lesson that we’re going to have to take and that we’re going to have to learn from. It all comes down to putting in the effort, making sure that the guys are providing that energy and that the players are doing their job and that everyone is getting in position as much as possible. as quickly as possible.”
Stokes sympathized with fans who attend matches and end up feeling let down when a full 90 overs are not bowled in a day. In England, where tickets are particularly expensive, excessive fees have been a topic of conversation among a section of their fans.
“You totally understand why there is frustration on the part of fans about not getting their full game day allotment,” he said. “But again, we’re trying. We’re there to play a game we’re trying to win and there’s a lot that goes into that. We’re not deliberately pitching slower paces than the rules say.”
