The real-time Snickometer is back in the news during the third Ashes 2025-26 Test between Australia and England in Adelaide after another controversial decision. For the second day in a row, the edge-detection system played a significant role in the match, raising doubts over the reliability of the technology.
On the first day (Wednesday, December 17), Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey escaped a caught-back review. Snicko showed the sound spike, but it didn’t match the visuals. With the evidence inconclusive, England’s appeal was rejected, allowing Carey to continue batting. Carey scored a century.
Later, BBG Sports, the company that operates Snickometer, admitted that the wrong stump microphone was used during the review, confirming a technical error that affected the decision.
Snicko should be sacked – Mitchell Starc
Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc criticized the snicko system during England’s first innings after another controversial decision.
The Australian fast bowler was heard on the stump microphone during the final session at the Adelaide Oval criticizing the technology as bad and saying it had made mistakes on consecutive days.
“Snicko needs to be sacked,” Starc was heard saying on the stump microphone during Thursday’s final session at Adelaide Oval.
“It’s the worst technique out there. They made a mistake the other day and they made another mistake today.”
Starc’s comments came after the umpires decided to send the decision to the third umpire to decide whether England batsman Jamie Smith was caught by Usman Khawaja.
Jamie Smith survives close call as snicko sparks new debate
Jamie Smith survived a close call after a short ball from Pat Cummins caused confusion at slip during the England innings. Smith went for a hook shot but missed the ball, which then went to Usman Khawaja at first slip.
Australia believed that the ball had touched Smith’s gloves before going to Khawaja. The on-field umpires also became suspicious and referred the decision to the third umpire to check whether the catch was clean or not.
Replays and Snicko suggested that the ball may have hit Smith’s helmet rather than his glove. There was uncertainty because the ball seemed to bounce before reaching Khawaja.
Despite watching the replays several times, the third umpire declared Smith not out. He survived with 16 runs, frustrating the Australian players and adding to the debate over Snicko’s credibility.
England furious after Jamie Smith was given out despite inconclusive evidence
Jamie Smith tried to play a pull shot on a short ball outside the off stump. The ball went to Alex Carey, who took the catch behind the stumps and Australia immediately appealed. On-field umpire Nitin Menon sent the decision to the third umpire. Replays showed that the ball had gone to Carey.
The snickometer showed a clear spike as the ball passed the bat, although slow-motion replays showed a difference between bat and ball. However, third umpire Chris Gaffney trusted the snicko reading and ruled Smith out caught behind the wicket.
Smith appeared unconvinced by the decision and walked away shaking his head. Ben Stokes also looked quite disappointed at the non-striker end. The moment was compared to Alex Carey’s escape, when a similar snicko issue had worked in Australia’s favour.
Also read: ICC admits technical mistake, reinstates England’s review after Alex Carey’s appeal in Adelaide Test
