England cricket team captain Ben Stokes has called for different slow-over rate rules for SENA countries, namely South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. His remarks come after England were docked two points for maintaining a slow-over rate in the Lord’s Test against India. Ahead of IND vs ENG 4th Test, Stokes explained why different slow-over rate rules were needed for Asia and SENA countries.
Stokes wants slow-over rate rules to be tweaked
Addressing reporters ahead of the Manchester Test, Stokes claimed that the structure of slow-over rate rules must be relooked at. He explained that the same rules can’t be applicable for Asia and SENA countries as spinners bowled 70% of the overs in the former while pacers did so in the latter. Stokes said that it was “common sense” to understand that spinners could finish overs faster and that rules must be changed as to how overs are timed in different continents.
“Over rate isn’t something that I worry about, but that’s not saying that I purposely slow things down. I do understand the frustration around it, but I honestly think there needs to be a real hard look at how it’s structured. You can’t have the same rules in Asia, where spin is bowling 70 per cent of the overs, to have the same laws in New Zealand, Australia, England, where it’s going to be 70-80 per cent seam bowling,” Stokes said.
England’s offence at Lord’s could come back to haunt them later. In the last WTC cycle as well, they were docked a massive 22 points for these repeated offences.
“A spinner’s over takes less time than a seamer’s over. So common sense would think that you should look at maybe changing how the over rates are timed in different continents. I think as well, the over rates obviously have gone down over the course of quite a few years now,” Stokes added.
