Australian opener Usman Khawaja baffled as new ICC over-rate fines add insult to injury after Ashes draw

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Usman Khawaja has hit out at the ICC after Australia and England were penalised World Test Championship points and fined for slow over-rates during the Ashes.

The Aussies lost 10 points and were fined half their match fees for being 10 overs short in the fourth Test at Manchester – something that frustrated the opening batsman.

“Don’t even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to two days of rain and ICC still issues fines and takes 10 WTC points off us for slow over rates!” he wrote, with a facepalm emoji.

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“That makes a lot of sense.”

Khawaja last month revealed he had approached the ICC about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in Tests after the governing body announced it had decided to soften sanctions.

He said it was “really frustrating” for players to lose their match fees despite delivering entertaining matches.

Australia celebrate retaining the Ashes. Credit: Getty

England, meanwhile, received fines of 10 per cent for the first Test, 45 per cent for the second, 15 per cent for the fourth and 25 per cent for the fifth.

The hosts beat Australia by 49 runs in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on Monday, securing a 2-2 series draw.

Reigning champions Australia, who retained the Ashes, are currently third in the WTC standings while England are fifth.

Having gained 28 points – 24 for two wins and four for a draw – England finished with just nine points dropping them below the West Indies, who have played just two matches and are yet to record a win.

– with 7NEWS