After two days of fighting cricket in the third India vs England Test (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy) played at Lord’s, the visitors find themselves 242 runs behind England’s first innings total of 387 with seven wickets to spare. The over-rate, however, has been fairly poor from both teams, as former England captain and now a cricket pundit, Michael Vaughan said the slow over-rate has been a problem in Test cricket.
His comments came after the game lost a combined total of 22 overs across the first two days. India bowled 83 overs on the first day, while the play on day 2 saw a combined total of 75 overs bowled by India and England as they fell 15 overs short of the 90-over target for a single day.
“I don’t think fines work. I think these lads are quite rich,” said Vaughan to the BBC Sports with a laugh. “I don’t think the cash is going to affect them. Been a problem for Test match cricket for a while. I know it’s hot. I know we’ve had a few injuries, but when we get to the fifth day, we have to bowl the 90 overs,” he added.
“I have no idea why on days one, two, three, and four, we can see the game played at a snail’s pace. Surely the game moves on by saying on day one there’s 90 overs. Guess what we’re going to do? We’re going to bowl 90 overs on day two exactly the same,” said Vaughan.
The former English cricketer said it should be mandatory to complete the day’s quota no matter what and by compelling the teams to bowl the 90 overs would guarantee an improved over rate.
“You watch on day five when the players, the umpires, know that 90 overs have to be bowled. They’ll be running around. There won’t be as many drinks breaks, there won’t be as many delays because they know that 90 overs have to be bowled. So I’d make it vey, very simple. You have to bowl the 90 overs. I would guarantee that would improve the pace,” Vaughan added.
