New Zealand’s hopes of making the World Test Championship final have taken another hit.
The Black Caps have been docked points for a slow over rate in their first test defeat to England, in Christchurch last week.
They lost three competition points, as well as being fined 15% of their match fees, to drop to fifth in the WTC standings.
England were also hit with the penalty for their own slow over rate.
The Black Caps are behind India (61.11%), South Africa (59.26%), Australia (57.69%) and Sri Lanka (50%) on the standings.
They could finish on a maximum of 55.36% if they were to win both remaining tests against England.
They also need several other results to go their way.
The final will be held at Lord’s in June.
New Zealand won the first championship final in 2021, beating India in Southampton.
Australia are the defending champions.
• A sun-faded and insect-damaged test cap worn by Don Bradman has sold for A$479,700 ($NZ526,988) in a record for a cap worn by the Australian cricket great.
Bradman wore the baggy green cap during India’s first tour of Australia as an independent country in 1947-48, scoring 715 runs in six innings at an average of 178.75.
During the five-test series, Bradman also became Australia’s first player to notch 100 first-class centuries as he led the hosts to a 4-0 win.
At the end of the tour, he gave the cap to the Indian team manager Pankaj ‘‘Peter’’ Gupta who passed it on to wicketkeeper PK Sen.
It was bought by the previous owner in 2003 and had been on loan to the Bradman Museum in Bowral since 2010. — APL/AAP
