England fined for slow-over rate

Andrew Strauss and his England team have been fined for a slow over-rate during the fourth Test defeat to South Africa, which concluded in Johannesburg yesterday.

To compound the misery of England's innings and 74 run defeat at The Wanderers, which saw South Africa share the four-Test series at 1-1, match referee Roshan Mahanama ruled the tourists were an over short of their target at the end of the match, once time allowances had been taken into consideration.

Strauss, who today was left out of the squad for the tour to the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh, was fined 20% of his match fee and the remaining 10 England players received fines of 10%.

An International Cricket Council statement read: "If Strauss is found guilty of two further minor over-rate offences in Tests over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the new, enhanced ICC Code of Conduct.

"The penalty was accepted by Strauss without contest so there was no need for a hearing."