In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, England defeated India in a nail-biting contest at Lord’s to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. However, despite their hard-earned 22-run victory, England have slipped to third place in the latest ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table—not because of the result, but due to a slow over rate.
A Thriller at Lord’s Ends in England’s Favor
The third Test between India and England was a classic five-day battle, ending in the final session on Day 5. Chasing a modest target of 193, India’s lower order, led by Ravindra Jadeja, mounted a gritty resistance. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61, but the valiant efforts of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj couldn’t quite carry India over the line. The final two Indian partnerships—Jadeja with Bumrah (35 runs off 132 balls) and Jadeja with Siraj (23 off 80)—kept the contest alive till the very end.
Eventually, England prevailed by 22 runs, sending the Lord’s crowd into raptures and giving the hosts a crucial 2-1 lead in the series.
England Penalized for Slow Over Rate
However, the joy of victory was slightly dampened for Ben Stokes’ side. The ICC has penalized England two WTC points for maintaining a slow over rate during the Lord’s Test. According to Article 16.11.2 of the ICC WTC playing conditions, teams lose one WTC point for each over they fall short of the target after time allowances are considered. England were found two overs short, resulting in the deduction.
As a result:
England’s WTC points were reduced from 24 to 22.
Their percentage of points (PCT) dropped from 66.67% to 61.11%.
Consequently, England slipped from second to third in the standings, overtaken by Sri Lanka, who now sit second with 66.67% PCT.
In addition to the point penalty, the team was also fined 10% of their match fees under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Each player is fined 5% per over short of the target. England captain Ben Stokes accepted the charge, negating the need for a formal hearing.
Latest ICC WTC Standings (As of July 16, 2025)
| Pos | Team | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | PCT (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 3 | England | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 61.11 |
| 4 | India | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 33.33 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 6 | West Indies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
What’s Next?
India and England will now turn their attention to the fourth Test, which is set to be played in Manchester from July 23. With the series hanging in the balance and WTC points at stake, both teams will be eager not only to win but also to stay within the over-rate limits—something that could prove crucial in the tight WTC race.
