Snicko Technology Under Fire After Controversial Ashes Decisions
The accuracy of the “Snicko” technology came under renewed criticism during the third Ashes Test on Thursday, after England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was controversially dismissed caught behind despite no visible evidence of contact between bat and ball. The incident followed a similar controversy the previous day, deepening concerns about the reliability of the audio-based detection system.
Fresh Controversy Mars Third Test
Smith, batting on 22, appeared to miss a delivery from Australian captain Pat Cummins entirely, yet a spike on the Snicko graph suggested an edge. On-field umpire Nitin Menon referred the appeal to third umpire Chris Gaffaney, who upheld the decision after the audio spike appeared as the ball passed the bat. Video replays, however, failed to show any definitive contact.
The dismissal left England reeling at 159 for six in response to Australia’s first-innings total of 371. A visibly frustrated Smith shook his head as he walked off, reflecting England’s growing irritation with the technology.
Just one day earlier, Snicko had failed to detect a clear edge from Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, allowing him to continue his innings and ultimately reach 106. Carey later admitted he had hit the ball, prompting criticism from players and officials alike.
Players and Officials Question Reliability
Australia’s Mitchell Starc was overheard venting his frustration on the field, saying, “Snicko needs to be sacked. That’s the worst technology there is.” His comments captured the mood in both camps, as questionable decisions began to overshadow the match.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg expressed disappointment over the errors, confirming the governing body was seeking explanations from Snicko’s operator, BBG Sports.
“It certainly caused me some heartburn because the whole idea of technology is to take away the clanger or the howler,” Greenberg said. “From what I can understand, it’s human error. There’s the umpire’s decision, and then a fail-safe with the technology that didn’t happen. It’s not good enough, and we’re asking a lot of questions to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
BBG Sports Admits Human Error
Following mounting criticism, BBG Sports accepted responsibility, citing human error for selecting “the wrong stump microphone for audio processing.” The mistake, which occurred during Carey’s reprieve, meant the system failed to align the correct sound feed with the ball’s passage.
England lost a review challenging Carey’s non-dismissal, though the match referee later reinstated it after acknowledging the technical failure.
Australia were eventually dismissed for 371 early on day two after winning the toss and choosing to bat. The hosts currently lead the five-match series 2–0 following victories in Perth and Brisbane.
with inputs from Reuters