Australia have been fined 40 percent of their match fee and penalised four ICC World Test Championship points, for maintaining a slow over-rate in their defeat by India, in the second test in Melbourne.
Tim Paine's side were ruled to be two overs short of the target, after time allowances were taken into consideration, with match referee David Boon imposing the sanction.
"Under Article 2.22 of the ICC code of conduct, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," the ICC said.
"In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised two points for each over short."
Cricket's global governing body said Paine pleaded guilty to the offence and there was no need for a formal hearing.
India won the second test within four days in Melbourne on Tuesday, a rousing eight-wicket victory, which levelled the four-match series at 1-1.
The loss of Test Championship points shouldn't affect Australia's hopes of progressing, as finalists are determined by winning percentage, not total points after several series' were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia remain on top of the World Test Championship table despite the penalty, with its 322 points putting it ahead of India on percentage, even though the latter has more total points (390).
Speaking after his side’s thumping eight-wicket defeat, Paine said the squad had a lot of reflecting to do after a horror spare of batting and several dropped catches in the field.
"Obviously we’re very disappointed,” he said.
"We played pretty poor cricket, pretty sloppy cricket for the majority of the Test match.
"That’s to take nothing away from India, they put us under pressure and forced us into making several mistakes, particularly with the bat.
"When you do that against good sides it’s very hard to win."
The third test is scheduled to begin at Sydney's SCG on January 7.
