ENG vs IND 2025: After the thrilling Test match at Lord’s between England and India, former England captain Michael Vaughan raised eyebrows at the ICC’s decision to penalise only England for a slow over rate. The ICC docked England two World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined the players 10% of their match fees, a move Vaughan feels is unfair.
ENG vs IND 2025: Michael Vaughan Questions ICC’s Over-Rate Penalty Decision
The third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was a nail-biter. Both teams finished with the same first-innings total, setting up a tense finale. India needed 193 runs to win in the final innings but fell just 22 runs short, giving England a hard-fought victory.
However, despite the result, England were the only side punished for a slow over rate. Vaughan questioned why India escaped any penalty, suggesting both teams were guilty and should have faced the same consequences.
“Let’s be honest both teams over rates at Lords were very very poor. How only 1 team has been reprimanded is beyond me,” he wrote on X.
Let’s be honest both teams over rates at Lords were very very poor .. How only 1 team has been reprimanded is beyond me .. #ENGvsIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 16, 2025
England lost two World Test Championship (WTC) points after being found two overs short during the Lord’s Test against India. As per WTC rules, teams lose one point for every over they fall behind, even after all time allowances are considered. This penalty dropped England from 24 to 22 points, pushing them down from second to third place in the standings. Sri Lanka has now moved up to second.
On top of that, the ICC fined England’s players 5% of their match fees for each over short, adding up to a 10% fine overall. Captain Ben Stokes accepted the penalty without requesting a formal hearing.
Michael Vaughan Praises Stokes’ Leadership and Archer’s Return
Despite the setback, former England skipper Michael Vaughan praised Stokes’ leadership in the match and also applauded the decision to bring Jofra Archer back into the team.
“What he has done for the team and the way he has played this expansive game across Test match cricket for the number of years is phenomenal. England doesn’t lose many games of cricket when Ben Stokes is in action. When the pressure’s been on and the game’s on a knife edge, I don’t think I have ever seen Ben lose,” Vaughan said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
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