The Ashes: Snickometer under fire as DRS errors spark controversy

Decision Review System (DRS) technology is meant to eliminate doubt, but during the ongoing Ashes Test in Adelaide, it has done quite the opposite. What was once considered a reliable aid for third umpires has now become the centre of heated debate, with Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc launching a blunt attack on Snicko after a series of baffling decisions dominated Day 2 of the match.

Starc’s frustration boiled over when another controversial Snicko call went against Australia. Caught on the stump microphone, the left-armer did not hold back.

“Snicko needs to be sacked. It’s the worst technology ever,” he said, summing up the mood inside the Australian camp.

Carey Reprieve Sparks First Flashpoint

The debate began on Day 1 when wicketkeeper Alex Carey was given not out on 72 despite strong England appeals for a caught-behind. Although Snicko showed a visible spike, it appeared before the ball reached the bat. Third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled there was a “clear gap”, allowing Carey to continue. He went on to score a match-defining maiden Ashes century.  

What exactly is a Snickometer?

Snickometer, often shortened to Snicko, is a technology used within the Decision Review System (DRS) to detect whether the ball has made contact with the bat or glove. 

It does so by utilising the audio signals put out by highly sensitive stump microphones. When the ball passes the bat, the system generates a soundwave. A sharp spike at the precise moment the ball passes the bat is interpreted as evidence of an edge.

However, Snicko relies heavily on accurate audio-video synchronisation. Where there is not perfect synchronisation between the sound spike and the ball passing the bat, misidentifications may occur, and just that happened in the Adelaide Test.

Confusion Deepens with Jamie Smith Calls

On Day 2, England batter Jamie Smith found himself at the centre of two tight decisions in quick succession. First, despite visible glove movement, Snicko showed no spike, and Smith was ruled not out. Just two overs later, Snicko detected a delayed spike after the ball passed the bat, and Smith was given out, a ruling that only heightened confusion over the system’s consistency.

Snicko Operator Error Admitted

BBG Sports, the company supplying Snicko, later accepted responsibility for Carey’s reprieve, admitting the wrong stump microphone was likely used. Carey himself acknowledged he believed he had edged the ball but made it clear he had no intention of walking.

Technology in the Spotlight Again

With multiple key decisions hinging on inconsistent audio-visual evidence, the Adelaide Test has reignited serious questions about DRS reliability. As Starc’s outburst made clear, Snicko, not the cricket, has once again stolen the Ashes spotlight.