England expressed frustration over a mistake that allowed Alex Carey to escape being dismissed after edging behind at the Adelaide Oval. Carey scored a crucial 106 runs as Australia ended day one of the third Ashes Test at 326-8, although he should have been out at 72.
The Australian wicket-keeper seemed to edge a delivery from Josh Tongue to Jamie Smith when Australia was at 245-6. Despite England’s appeal, umpire Ahsan Raza ruled it not out, leading Ben Stokes to request a review.
A replay using ‘Snicko’ technology indicated a sound spike, suggesting bat contact. However, the spike occurred before the ball touched the bat, leading TV umpire Chris Gaffaney to uphold the on-field decision.
England was puzzled and upset by the decision, especially as a similar incident had resulted in Jamie Smith’s dismissal in the first Test at Perth. The error was attributed to the technology operator using the wrong stump mic audio, causing a mismatch between sound and visuals.
BBG Sports accepted responsibility for the error, acknowledging that the incorrect stump mic selection led to the controversial decision. Carey, who had previously been involved in contentious incidents, including running out Jonny Bairstow in a previous Ashes series, admitted post-match that he had made contact with the ball.
Addressing the situation, Carey mentioned a noise when the ball passed the bat, though he acknowledged the replay looked unusual. He attributed his escape to a lack of alignment in the ‘Snicko’ technology, adding that luck played a role in his favor.
England’s bowling coach, David Saker, hinted at potential complaints to match referee Jeff Crowe regarding the ‘Snicko’ issues. The technology’s discrepancies with TV visuals have been a recurring topic in the series, prompting calls for improvement.
Fans and commentators were also perplexed by the incident replay, with former England captain Michael Vaughan noting the significant spike before the ball reached the bat. The ongoing controversy surrounding ‘Snicko’ technology may lead to further scrutiny and adjustments in the series.