'Fines don’t work' - Michael Vaughan suggests tweaking penalty for slow over rates following WTC Final debacle

Following the conclusion of the World Test Championship Final at The Oval, both finalists, India and Australia, were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the course of the match. As Australia ran out comfortable winners on the fifth day, former England skipper Michael Vaughan put forward a possible solution to settle the issue of slow over-rates in Tests.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) levied heavy fines on Australia and India for maintaining a slow over-rate during the WTC Final. Such was the measure of their tardiness that the summit clash lost nearly 44 overs during the course of the match, with only 75 overs bowled on the second day. 

While the teams are docked points for maintaining a slow-over rate during the WTC cycle, no such provision was in place for the final, resulting in Australia and India's lack of urgency. However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan wasn't pleased with the inadequacy of both teams and suggested a solution to resolve the over-rate issue in Test cricket.

He lamented that the fines don't really matter to the teams, but if the opposition team is awarded 20 runs for every over lost at the end of the day, teams are more likely to rush to finish the quota of overs on the given day. 

Fines don’t work .. So Runs awarded to the Batting team at the end of the days play could be the only way .. 20 runs per over .. https://t.co/2YTYMaCax7

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 12, 2023

Even though the slow-over rate did not impact the outcome of the WTC Final, it can play a factor in close-fought encounters, especially with an in-form Australia clashing against a formidable England in the Ashes in the coming days. Coming to the penalty, India were fined 100 per cent of their match fee while Australia were fined 80 per cent of theirs.