Paine "bitterly disappointed" to miss out on WTC final due to overrate penalities

Australia were one of the front-runners in the race to reach the WTC final and were docked four points for slow overrate during the Boxing Day Test against India. It hampered their chances big-time and the series cancellation against South Africa resulted in India and New Zealand playing each other in the Southampton final. 

A frustrated Australia red-ball skipper Tim Paine now stated that missing out on the World Test Championship final was a "bitter pill to swallow" and enjoined the match referees to be more consistent while imposing points penalty for slow over rates.

"Bitterly disappointed that we weren't there (WTC final) because of over rates. We've always got things in place to try to help out with that, but unfortunately, it doesn't always work. Unfortunately, we're the team that I think has borne the brunt of it for an over-rate," Paine told reporters

Paine called for more consistency while handing out points penalties. "There's been a lot of Test match cricket in the last two years where teams haven't bowled their overs and I'm not sure how many teams lost points out of it. I think there needs to be a little bit more consistency around it, given now that the prize is so big and a couple of overs can cost you four points."

The wicketkeeper-batsman suggested that Australia were the only team to be docked points for an over-rate offense. "We were behind on our overs, and that's what it is. My thing is just with the consistency. I haven't played in too many days where the full overs have been bowled, and to my knowledge, there haven't been other teams docked points.

"Yeah, it's a bitter pill to swallow when you're the only team that's been docked points and you see it happen Test match after Test match, after Test match."

The 36-year-old revealed it was difficult for him to watch the summit clash between India and New Zealand.

"I didn't watch too much of it. I watched the last day. I turned it on excited to watch the first day. I thought I was excited, and then got a bit dirty and didn't watch it. I tuned in for the last day and it was bloody exciting, it was great cricket to watch."

(With inputs from PTI)