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England over rates must improve: Root

3 minute read

England captain Joe Root says being docked Test championship points for slow over rates hurts more than the financial sanction.

England batsman JOE ROOT
England batsman JOE ROOT Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

England captain Joe Root says being docked Test championship points because of slow over rates hurts more than losing their entire match fee.

The tourists were fined their match fees and also lost five World Test Championship points for tardy over rates in their first-Test loss to Australia in Brisbane.

Root's side was five overs short of their target, after time allowances were taken into consideration, with match referee David Boon imposing the sanction.

"When we're that far behind the over rate, you have got to take it (sanctions)," Root said.

"But we have to be quicker, we all know that.

"We want the game to be moving forward all the time and we don't want it to be slowed down."

Root, who pledged a quicker rate in the second Test in Adelaide starting on Thursday, said England's limited lead-in to the series-opener was a factor in at the Gabba.

"I am not trying to make excuses but I think with the lack of preparation it was probably a little bit more challenging for an English team coming into this heat and these conditions," he said.

"Not being ready for that made it a little bit trickier for us as a bowling group but we still have to be quicker.

"We have been stung not just financially, but the thing that hurt most was the points - losing those points, that's a lot of points."

Under the ICC's system, 12 points are awarded for a Test win, four for a draw and six for a tie - therefore a five-Test series will have a total of 60 points available and a two-Test series a maximum of 24.

"When you play longer series like we do generally within the Test championship - we generally play three, four, five match series - losing chunks of points like that can really hurt you," Root said.

"There are certain things that you can manage as captain - that is one thing that you always have to give the responsibility to the rest of the team as well, it can't just sit on your shoulders.

"But obviously ultimately it does fall on me."

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