What is Slow Over Rate in Cricket? | Over Rate Explained

As a Cricket fan, you might have come across the term over rate or slow over rate. In fact, you might have also seen some captains or teams being penalized for slow over-rate. Do you know what is slow over-rate in cricket? stick with us and in this article, we will look at what is Over Rate in Cricket, Minimum over rate, Over Rate Penalties, Notable over-rate penalties, and over rate in IPL.

What is Over Rate

Over rate in cricket is the number of overs bowled by the bowling team in an hour (60 min).

A bowling team has to satisfy a minimum over rate, failing to achieve the minimum over rate will lead to either points deduction of the team, the players fined or the captain being suspended for further matches.

Calculating the Over Rate

The over rate is calculated at the end of the match by the appointed umpires. In the case of Test Matches, the over rate will be the average rate achieved by the bowling team during both innings.

In an International match while calculating the over rate allowances are given for the time lost due to any of the following reasons.

• Treatment given to a player by an authorized medical personnel on the field of play.
• A player is required to leave the field as a result of a serious injury.
• All TV umpire referrals and consultations.
• Time wasted by the batting side ( which may constitute a separate offense depending upon the context and seriousness of the incident ).
• All other circumstances that are beyond the control of the fielding team.

In addition, the following allowances will be given.

• In Test Matches.
  • 2 minutes per wicket taken.
  • 4 minutes per drinks break taken (one per session).
• In Twenty20 International Matches.
  • 1 minute for every three overs that an innings is reduced by as a result of any delay and/or interruption in play.

Further, the following exclusions and exemptions will be applied.

• In Test Matches
  • If the fielding team bowls out the batting team in 60 overs or less in any particular innings and the minimum over rate requirement for that innings has not been exceeded, no account shall be taken of the actual over rate in this innings when calculating the actual rate at the end of such matches.
  • If the fielding team bowls out the batting team twice but has not completed more than 120 overs in total across both of its complete fielding innings in doing so, no sanction will be imposed in respect of any breach of the minimum over rate.
  • If the fielding team has not completed more than 60 overs in total in the course of its two innings in a match, no sanction will be imposed in respect of any breach of the minimum over rate.
• In One Day International Matches or Twenty20 International Matches
  • If the fielding team bowls out the batting team within the time determined for that innings pursuant to the ICC’s standard ODI or T20I playing conditions (as applicable), no sanction will be imposed in respect of any breach of the minimum over rate.

Procedure

The actual over rate is calculated by the umpires, when it is equal or excess of the minimum over rate no further action shall be taken but when it is less than the minimum over rate the following procedure is followed.

• Only the umpires that were officiated during that particular match can report to the match referee within 18 hours of the close of the day’s play or prior to the start of the following day’s play, whichever is sooner.
• Thereafter, the match referee shall promptly consult with the umpires and shall be entitled, after such consultation makes such amendments to the actual over rate calculation as he deems appropriate in the circumstances to reflect those circumstances that are beyond the control of the fielding team.
• When the match referee confirms that the minimum over rate has not been achieved by the fielding team in that particular match, the match referee will promptly issue a notice of charge.

Minimum Over Rate

Test

In a Test match, 90 overs have to be bowled in 6 hours, calculating the over rate per hour will be 15 overs, which makes it 4 minutes per hour.

A team can get an additional half an hour at the end of the day if requested.

ODI

In ODI’s bowling team has to complete a spell of 50 overs in 3.5 hours (210 minutes). As per the rules, 10 minutes is provided for drinks break, so we get an over rate per hour of about 14.28, which makes it 4 min per over.

T20I

In T20I’s a total of 1Hour 25 Minutes (including drinks break) is allotted for bowling 20 overs. Calculating the over rate per hour is 14.11 which means 4.25 minutes for each over.

Over Rate Penalties

According to ICC in an ODI/T20 match if a team fails to achieve minimum over rate and if the team is short up to two overs in a match it is considered as a “Minor Over Rate Offence” and if a team is more than two over short it is considered as a “Serious Over Rate Offence“.

In Test matches up to five over short is a Minor Over Rate Offence, more than five is a Serious Over Rate Offence.

As per ICC’s rules in the case of Minor Over Rate Offence, a captain will be fined 20% of his match fee per over, each player of this team is also fined 10% per over.

If the captain is guilty of a Serious Over Rate Offence he will be banned from one match.

Notable Penalties for slow over rate

• In the very first edition of the World Test Championship 2019-2021, Australia was playing against India and in the second test on 29 December, 2020 due to slow over rate Australia’s 4 points were deducted. As a result of this Australia did not qualify for the finals, as their final percentage drained down to 69.2% (332/480) from 70% (336/480). New Zealand had also achieved a final percentage of 70%, If Australia would have also ended up in 70% due to their superior Runs Per Wicket Ratio they would have ended in the second position and hence would have qualified for the finals.
• In the 2017 County Championship, Middlesex was relegated by 1 point after a deduction of 2 points for a slow over rate. The minimum over rate requirement was 16 overs per hour.
• In the World Cup 1999, India was fined 4 overs due to a slow over rate in the first innings. However, Zimbabwe clinched the victory by 3 runs as India were bowled out in 45 overs.

Slow Over Rate in IPL

Slow over rate is also the most concern in IPL, as it was the common code of conduct breach committed by almost all IPL teams in IPL, Due to this a lot of matches were ending after midnight. The host broadcasters witnessed a drastic drop in viewership whenever the match went beyond midnight. The broadcasters approached and discussed this issue with the IPL authorities, As a result, the IPL authorities took the decision that the evening matches would begin half an hour earlier than the previous seasons this came into effect from the 2020 season of IPL, Hence the matches begin from 7.30 PM IST instead of 8.00 PM IST.

However, from the 2021 IPL season, additional measures have been introduced to ensure that the match finishes in the allotted time.

Till the 2020 season, the over rate clock would be stopped at the start of the 20th over which meant that the teams would not be penalized if the over begins on time and the final over continues beyond the limit.

From the 2021 IPL season onwards the 20th over will also be included in the 90 minutes which includes two strategic timeouts that account for a total of five minutes.

Penalty for Slow Over Rate in IPL

What are the penalties for the slow over-rate in IPL?

According to the IPL Code of Conduct, here are the penalties for the slow over-rate.

• For the first offense of a team in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 12 Lakhs INR.
• For the second offense of a team in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 24 Lakhs and the remaining 10 playing players will either be fined 25% of their match fees or six Lakhs, depending on which amount is lesser.
• For the third offense and each subsequent offense in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 30 Lakhs and will also be banned for one match. The other 10 playing players in the team will be fined 50% of the match fees or 12 Lakhs depending on which amount is lesser.

Over Rate FAQ