Former England captain Michael Vaughan delivered a scathing assessment of the Snicko technology controversy plaguing the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, stating that "everyone has lost faith" in the decision review system following repeated questionable outcomes. The ongoing match, part of the 2025-26 Ashes series, has been overshadowed by two high-profile incidents involving the edge-detection tool on consecutive days, raising fresh doubts about the reliability of third-umpire technology in cricket.
On Day 1, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey was given not out after England appealed for a caught-behind off Brydon Carse. Snicko showed no visible spike as the ball passed the bat, prompting the decision to stand despite visible deviations and audible sounds to many observers. Carey survived on 9, went on to score a crucial century, and later admitted post-innings that the ball had indeed clipped his bat, confirming he should have been dismissed. The revelation intensified criticism of the technology's accuracy under certain conditions.
Day 2 brought further drama when England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith survived a similar appeal from Australia. Again, Snicko displayed no clear hotspot or spike, leading third umpire Joel Wilson to rule not out despite Australia's strong conviction of an edge. Vaughan, commentating for Fox Cricket, labelled the incidents as evidence that Snicko has become unreliable, arguing that players, officials, and fans no longer trust the system's readings, especially in fine-edge situations where atmospheric or equipment factors may interfere.
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The back-to-back controversies have reignited debates over the limitations of current DRS tools, including Snicko (sound-based detection) and Hot Spot, with calls growing for enhanced calibration or supplementary technologies. As the third Test remains finely poised, the incidents underscore ongoing challenges in achieving definitive umpiring accuracy in high-stakes international cricket, potentially influencing the series outcome.
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