The current Test at Lord's between England and Sri Lanka is a cracker, swinging this way and that. But we're not going to talk about Morgan's genius, Prior's amazing first innings average, a rare failure for Jonathan Trott, Tillekeratne Dilshan's curious field placings or England's inability to bowl consistent lines. Instead, it's the over rate that's got our goat.
In the first session of the game, Sri Lanka only managed to bowl 23 overs. That's pathetic and forces us to scratch an itch that's been growing a while. There is simply no reason for any side to bowl 15 overs per hour, and yet it remains beyond the wit of all international sides to manage this. Suspensions and fines have made absolutely no difference, so it's time to ramp up the punishment and hit sides where it hurts. Penalty runs.
We're sure this is something the ICC will be interested in as they have the game at heart, oh dear me yes. For every hour of play, for every full over a side fails to bowl short of the 15, add 5 runs to the opposition's total, the runs to be added at the next break in play. If that applied at Lord's this week, that's 30 extra runs England would have had by lunch on the opening day and if that doesn't give sides the hurry-up, nothing will.
