England’s cricket team is weighing the possibility of filing an official grievance following a significant technological error during the opening day of the third Ashes Test. The incident, involving the Snicko review system, granted Australian batsman Alex Carey a crucial reprieve, which he later converted into a match-shaping century.
The controversy erupted when England bowler Josh Tongue appealed for a caught behind against Carey, who was then on 72. The on-field umpire’s not-out decision was reviewed. While the replay showed a clear audio spike on the Snickometer, the technology’s graphic displayed the spike occurring before the ball passed the bat, a physical impossibility that led third umpire Chris Gaffeney to uphold the original call.
The company responsible for the technology, BBG Sports, has since acknowledged the mistake was due to “operator error.” In a statement, they confirmed the wrong stump microphone feed was selected for audio processing, resulting in the misaligned data. Carey, who went on to score 106, admitted post-play that he believed he had made contact with the ball and would have attempted a review had he been given out.
England’s bowling coach, David Saker, expressed the team’s frustration, suggesting a formal complaint to the match referee was under consideration. “The calibration has been off at times this series,” Saker stated. “At a key moment, it’s a tough one. You expect the technology to be reliable. We’ve had concerns, and this might prompt further action.”
The incident has reignited debate over the consistency of decision-review technology in international cricket. While the use of such systems is mandated, the specific Snicko product employed by the host broadcaster in Australia has faced previous criticism for being less sophisticated than versions used in other territories.
Carey acknowledged his fortune, remarking, “The noise didn’t line up on the screen, that’s for sure. Sometimes the game goes your way.” The error proved costly, with Australia finishing the day at 326 for 8, their innings steadied by Carey’s controversial knock.