‘The players have to take responsibility’ - Ricky Ponting and Nasser Hussain reflect on slow over-rate penalties

Both England and Australia are heavily punished for maintaining a slow over-rate in the recently concluded Ashes 2023. England lost 19 points due to sanctions in four of the Tests, while Australia dropped 10 points from one match. Hence, despite having a terrific series, both teams will be disappointed with this as it can play a massive part in the race to qualify for the World Test Championship finale in 2025.

Talking about the same, former cricketer Ricky Ponting stated that the players need to take more responsibility in the middle, and the umpires, too, should intervene if the players are wasting more time. 

“I can’t see where all the time is going in the game, that’s the one thing I can’t understand. So, now there’s an extra half an hour played every day and still we’re losing six or seven overs every day. I don’t know, I just don’t get it. I don’t know where the time’s going.

“The players have to take responsibility. I think the umpires can be more active in it as well. I think the umpires need to start just getting the players around more, getting them ready, getting them organised, making sure the batter’s ready to face up, making sure the bowler is at the end of his mark when the batsman gets back to his crease. We’ve got to find a way not to be losing so much time in these games,” Ponting stated in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

I think the penalties should be harsh: Nasser Hussain

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain meanwhile wanted the penalties to be harsher. He wants full 90 overs should be played, and the fans should enjoy the entire day rather than players wasting time in the middle.

“I think the penalties should be harsh. I do think it is something that upsets fans. Tickets, especially in England, are very expensive. So you want to get the full day. Now some people argue, well, you're getting the entertainment anyway. But I do think, if you pay for 90 overs, you should expect 90 overs,” Hussain mentioned.