Stokes Calls for Over-Rate Rule Changes After Lord’s Penalty

MANCHESTER: Ben Stokes, the England captain, has requested a reconsideration of the current over-rate regulations in Test cricket. He believes these rules unfairly penalize teams with a strong pace bowling attack, especially when playing outside the subcontinent.

Speaking to reporters before the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester, Stokes acknowledged England’s recent penalty for a slow over-rate. He suggested, however, that the rules should be adjusted to accommodate the different conditions found around the world.

“You can’t have similar rules in Asia, where spin bowlers deliver 70 percent of the overs, and implement them in New Zealand, Australia, or England, where seam bowlers bowl 70–80 percent,” Stokes stated.

“An over bowled by a spinner takes less time compared to a seamer. Therefore, it makes sense that the over-rate regulations should be amended depending on the region.”

England has faced frequent penalties for maintaining a slow over-rate, losing 22 points in the previous World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Nevertheless, Stokes stated it is not a significant concern for him.

“I am not overly concerned about the over-rate, but that’s not to say I intentionally slow the game down. I understand the frustration, but I think there needs to be a thorough review of how the rules are structured,” he explained.

He drew attention to the physical demands on fast bowlers and how injuries can also play a role in affecting over-rates.

“Fast bowlers consistently put a lot of strain on their bodies. As a match goes on, overs will naturally take additional time due to tiredness,” he noted.

“During our previous Test, our spinner [Shoaib Bashir] sustained an injury, which meant we had to depend only on seamers on day five. This will clearly lead to a slower pace of play.”

Stokes also pointed out that higher scoring rates and more frequent boundaries might be impacting the time between overs.

“Numerous factors can affect over-rates; it shouldn’t simply be about adhering to a strict time limit. It’s important to maintain the quality of cricket,” he concluded.