England´s batsman Jamie Smith (R) is given out as teammate Ben Stokes (C) reacts on the second day of the third Ashes cricket Check match between Australia and England on the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on December 18, 2025. — AFP
The ‘Snicko’ know-how used within the Ashes got here below contemporary scrutiny in the course of the third Check on Thursday after England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was dismissed caught behind regardless of the ball not showing to have touched his bat.
A day after Alex Carey survived a caught-behind attraction as a result of an error by the know-how’s operator, England have been left fuming once more when Smith was given out for 22 when he took what seemed like a fresh-air swipe at a Pat Cummins supply.
On-field umpire Nitin Menon declined to rule on the attraction, calling on third umpire Chris Gaffaney to overview the supply.
There was no clear picture of the ball touching the bat on the video replay, however a spike on Snicko indicated a noise, and with the ball caught above the grass by wicketkeeper Carey Gaffaney instructed Menon to provide Smith out.
The England batsman shook his head in disgust as he trudged off, leaving England 159 for six in reply to Australia’s 371.
Smith had earlier survived a caught-behind attraction when on 16 after a Cummins ball appeared to deflect off his gloves and helmet to Usman Khawaja within the slips.
After utilizing the know-how to overview the supply, Gaffaney determined the ball had missed the glove, although it was additionally unclear whether or not Khawaja had caught it earlier than it touched the grass.
Australia have been upset by that consequence, with Starc’s derision picked up by the stumps microphone.
“Snicko needs to be sacked,” he mentioned.
“That’s the worst technology there is. They made a mistake yesterday, they made another mistake today.”
A Snicko error on Wednesday value England an important wicket on day one when Carey survived an attraction, the keeper later admitting he had hit the ball from Josh Tongue.
Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg criticised the know-how, saying the governing physique was looking for solutions from its operator.
“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 having dug into it last night and this morning is human error. There’s two human errors there – one is the actual decision from the umpire and then there’s supposed to be a fail-safe with the technology and it didn’t happen.
“In my view it’s not good enough. We’re asking a lot of questions of the provider through the broadcasters and we’re hoping to get some answers so we can be assured it won’t happen again.”
Carey was on 72 when he edged Tongue’s delivery through to wicketkeeper Smith but England’s appeal was turned down and the decision stood after they reviewed the decision.
Snicko picked up a sound but it did not align with the ball’s flight past the bat in the video review of the dismissal.
The reprieved Carey scored another 34 runs before he was dismissed for an innings-high 106 late on Wednesday.
Snicko’s provider BBG Sports took full responsibility, blaming human error for selecting “the incorrect stump (microphone) for audio processing”.
England misplaced a overview for failing to overturn the choice however the match official reinstated it.
Australia have been bowled out for 371 early on day two on Thursday after profitable the toss and selecting to bat.
The hosts lead the sequence 2-0 after wins in Perth and Brisbane.
