'What's the point?': England, Stokes and McCullum blasted after ICC strips 12 WTC points

England losing 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points for their slow over-rate has created a fresh controversy in English cricket, which is already reeling with Ben Stokes breaking the team's midnight curfew drama. A day after it was announced that Stokes would be back for the third Test vs New Zealand, ICC revealed that England have been deducted 12 points for their slow over-rate in the second Test defeat at The Oval on Sunday.

England had won the first Test at Lord's by 115 runs, but suffered a 253-run defeat in the second match. The points penalty has further ruined their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final.

England questioned after WTC punishment

England were found 12 overs short of the target and have also been fined 50% of their match fees.

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"England interim captain Joe Root admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing," ICC said in a statement.

England remain seventh in the WTC standings, but their points percentage dropped from 34.72 to 26.38. The top two teams in the standings, positions currently held by Australia and South Africa, will face off in the WTC final at Lord's next year.

Slamming captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, a cricket journalist based out of London, questioned England's poor record of losing points.

"England have been deducted ALL the World Test Championship points they've attained in this series so far," journalist Kit Harris wrote on X. "They've lost 48 points since May 2021. That is the equivalent of forfeiting FOUR matches. If the coach and captain don't care, what is the point of being in the competition?"

While discussing the points deduction, a fan wrote on X that McCullum and Stokes 'don't care' about winning the WTC.

"I truly believe the ECB, McCullum, Stokes and this current team doesn't care one bit about winning the WTC. Eventhough Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa are putting alot more resources into it. Just shows how far England Test cricket is right now."

Another joked that England is purposely losing points so that the next WTC final venue in England remains a neutral ground for participating teams.

"It's important that the final is on neutral ground, so this is good work."

The third and final England vs New Zealand Test will be played from 25 June at Nottingham.