ENGLAND have been hit with a record 19-point deduction in the World Test Championship.

That’s after a bizarre rule change came into play during The Ashes.

Ben Stokes’ men failed to win back the famous urn against their Australian counterparts.

A heroic late showing saw the hosts level the series for a draw.

But England’s final victory has been overshadowed by a massive point deduction for maintaining slow over rates during the five Tests.

The 19-point hit is as much as all the teams combined in the 2021-23 World Test Championship.

And it’s three more than the 16 points amassed by all teams in the 2019-21 campaign.

England were punished after falling short of over rates during four Ashes Tests.

They received a two-point deduction at Edgbaston, nine points at Lord’s, three at Old Trafford and five at the Oval.

However, rivals Australia received just a grand punishment of 10 points, coming up short in the Test at Old Trafford.

BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK

A new rule was introduced mid-series, raising the punishment thresholds from a minimum of 60 overs per innings to 80 overs per innings.

It also raised the overs per game from 120 to 160, as long as the opposition batted twice.

England’s chances of victory at Old Trafford were wiped out by rain, meaning they could only bat once.

Under the old rules, Australia would have also received penalties at Edgbaston, Lord’s and the Oval.

But star man Usman Khawaja was still unhappy with the one Test match Australia did get pulled up in.

He tweeted: “Don’t even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and ICC still issue fines and take 10 WTC points off us for slow over rates!

“That makes a lot of sense…”