England head into second Test locked in a bitter row with the ICC as Ben Stokes and Co look to seal first collection win in New Zealand in 16 YEARS
England go into Wednesday night’s crucial second Test against New Zealand locked in a stand-off with the ICC after it emerged that Ben Stokes is refusing to sign post-match documentation until his concerns about over-rate penalties are addressed.
Both teams were docked three World Test Championship points after England’s eight-wicket win at Christchurch, having fallen three overs behind the hourly scheduled rate of 15. With the punishment including 15 per cent of match fees, each England player is now roughly £2,250 out of pocket.
Their chances of reaching the WTC final at Lord’s in June vanished over the summer, but the killer blow had come during the 2023 Ashes, when they lost 19 points for slow over-rates. That led Stokes to raise concerns with the ICC via their match referees – and he says he is still awaiting an answer.
England must now ensure the matter does not become a distraction as they seek to win a Test series in New Zealand for the first time since 2007-08. But it follows the captain’s comments after Christchurch about the WTC, which he called ‘confusing’, and reflects England’s general bemusement at the ICC’s modus operandi.
Stokes had reacted to the news of the latest fine with three shrugging emojis on his Instagram story and a sarcastic: ‘Good on you ICC. Finished the game with 10 hours of play still left.’
He then expanded on his irritation at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, where he will take the field with an unchanged team, which means Jacob Bethell – awarded a two-year central contract after his promising debut last week – will remain at No 3.
Ben Stokes and England head into the second Test looking to secure a first series win in 17 years
Both England and New Zealand were fined 15 per cent of their match fees because of over rates
‘The most frustrating thing, from both teams’ points of view, is that the game finished early – there was a result,’ said Stokes.
‘But the frustration stems back to the Ashes. 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.
‘There’s never an over-rate issue in Asia because of how much spin is bowled. There needs to be some consideration around how over-rates are going to differ, in particular when it’s going to be a seam-dominant Test match, and obviously you get way more seam bowled in England, Australia and New Zealand.’
England already felt hard done by when the regulations were changed midway through the Ashes after lobbying by Australian opener Usman Khawaja in his capacity as a director of the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
The tweak meant that over-rate shortfalls in innings of fewer than 80 overs were discounted. With the two sides scoring roughly the same number of runs across the series, but England scoring them at 1.4 an over more quickly, it was the Australians who benefited from this nonsensical adjustment.
Stokes said he also raised the issue of how captains in seam-heavy Tests were supposed to remain tactically alert if they were trying to cram in 15 overs of seam an hour.
‘I like to change things quite a lot, and the field could be completely different for all six balls in an over,’ he said. ‘Getting told to hurry up isn’t the way that’s going to fix it. It needs to be discussed.
‘We’re not purposely bowling over-rates slower than the rules say. It doesn’t get dark here till 10 o’clock, or half 10 in England. Why not just make it that you bowl your overs out if the light is sufficient?
Ollie Pope retains the gloves and will bat at No 6 with Jacob Bethell continuing at No 3
‘Captains have to sign over-rate sheets and fines and stuff, but I have said not until I have the conversation. But they still take the fines off you anyway.’
Stokes, who said he was fit to play a full part as an all-rounder after pulling up mid-over in Christchurch with a back twinge, mixed angst with mischief during the build-up to the Basin.
The first Test was the fifth time in a row England have won the opening game of an overseas series. Yet only once – in Pakistan two years ago – have they gone on to win the series.
One of their failures to capitalise came here at Wellington in February 2023, when England lost by one run after umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rod Tucker unaccountably failed to call New Zealand quick Neil Wagner for a wide the ball before he dismissed last man Jimmy Anderson.
‘Was it a New Zealand umpire at square leg?’ asked Stokes with a smile. ‘It was an amazing game to be part of.’
Even so, the result made him only the fourth Test captain to lose after enforcing the follow-on. If the chance arises this week, would he do the same again?
‘It will be easier without Broad and Anderson,’ he joked. ‘It was a decision about what would sum the team up and what I am trying to do. I don’t regret it. It would be nice to be in that situation and scratching my head wondering whether we enforce the follow-on or not.’
That defeat represented a moment in time for Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Until then, they had presided over 10 wins out of 11. From Wellington onwards, they have won 11 out of 22 – and lost 10.
The tourists have named an unchanged side for the clash at the windiest venue in the game
While many continue to underestimate the threat presented by New Zealand, England do not
Victory here would allow England to go into 2025, when they host India and travel to Australia, with a series triumph against a team still pinching themselves after winning 3-0 in India.
But New Zealand believe the gap between the teams was exaggerated by the eight catches they put down at Hagley Oval, and are returning to a venue where – until losing to Australia in March – they had won five Tests in a row.
At international cricket’s windiest venue, and with a full house of nearly 6,400 expected, the next few days will not be dull. And while many continue to underestimate New Zealand, England do not. A series win here would be as good a result as anything the Bazballers have achieved.
Teams
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ollie Pope (wkt), 7 Ben Stokes (capt), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Shoaib Bashir.
New Zealand: (probable) 1 Tom Latham (capt), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wkt), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 William O’Rourke.
Umpires: Rod Tucker (Australia) and Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)
Match referee: David Boon (Australia)
Pitch and weather: Green at first, the Basin can flatten out. The forecast looks dry, other than a chance of showers on the third morning.
