England docked five WTC points for slow over rates in Gabba Test

The England players have been fined 100% of their match fees, and team has also been docked five World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining slow over rates in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, which Australia won by nine wickets on Saturday. Travis Head, Player of the Match for his 152 in Australia's first innings, has also been fined 15% of his match fees for the use of an audible obscenity during the game

The WTC playing conditions state that teams would be docked one point - and each player 20% of their match fees - for each over they fall short of after adjusting for time allowances, and David Boon, the match referee for the game, adjudicated that England had been short by five overs at the end of the match. That added up to the five points and the team's entire match fees.

Head was deemed to have used inappropriate language while batting, when he was beaten by a Ben Stokes delivery, which led to the fine and one demerit point, for Head's first offence in a 24-month period.

Head had not been part of the playing XI after the second Test against India at the start of the year, but came back strongly, hitting an aggressive 152 in Australia's first innings, after England had been bowled out for just 147.

England were better in their second innings, putting up a total of 297 built around a third-wicket partnership of 162 between Dawid Malan (82) and Joe Root (89), but another collapse left Australia with just 20 to win the Test, which they did for the loss of Alex Carey, who was opening in place of the injured David Warner.

Australia now go into the second Test, scheduled to start in Adelaide on December 16, with a 1-0 lead.