England fined for slow over-rate

London - As many pundits and cricket lovers bemoaned the speed of an Ashes series completed in just 18 days, England found themselves fined on Monday for a slow over-rate in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe, the former New Zealand batsman, ruled that Alastair Cook's men were two overs short of the required rate in an innings-and-46-run loss in south London which, nevertheless, saw England emerge with a 3-2 series win over Australia.

Cook, in his position as captain, was fined 40 percent of his match fee, and the remainder of his England team-mates 20 percent each.