Snicko chief takes blame for ‘error’ that led to Alex Carey’s DRS reprieve in third Ashes Test

BBG Sports, the company which makes the Snicko technology used for decision reviews in the Ashes, has apologised after a mistake during the first day of the third Test cost England and helped Australian batter Alex Carey to a crucial century.

England appealed confidently when Carey, on 72, swiped at a Josh Tongue delivery and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. England’s slip cordon were convinced they heard a noise and appealed immediately, but umpire Ahsan Raza was unmoved.

England reviewed the decision and Snicko showed a clear spike, but – not for the first time in the series – the noise tremor failed to match with the picture on screen, spiking two frames before the ball passed the bat.

Carey later admitted he felt a “feather” on the ball. “Snicko obviously didn’t line up, did it,” he said, after going on to secure an important ton for Australia. “That’s just the way cricket goes sometimes, you have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way today.”

BBG Sports’ founder Warren Brennan told Australian publication The Age: “Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing.

“In light of this, BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.”

England’s bowling coach David Saker said England were ill-served by the technology.

“The boys are pretty confident he hit it, I think the calibration of the Snicko is out,” the Australian told reporters after England toiled through a sweltering day in the field. “It was a pretty important decision. Those things hurt. You’d think in this day and age the technology’s good enough to pick things up like that.”

Saker said England had been unhappy with the technology throughout the series, without elaborating on specific instances, and might raise the matter with match officials.

“After today, that may go a bit further,” he said of complaints within the England camp. “It should be better than that. It is what it is.”

Australia, missing key man Steve Smith who dramatically withdrew at the eleventh hour citing “nausea and dizziness”, posted 326-8 after winning the toss on a pitch that promised big runs. Jofra Archer was the standout England bowler with three for 29 while Zak Crawley contributed a fine one-handed catch.

But Carey’s ton gave Australia a foothold in the game and leaves the match well balanced into what is expected to be a brutally hot day two in Adelaide.

The contentious incident came two years after Carey was cast as the villain of the 2023 Ashes, when he threw down Jonny Bairstow’s stumps in the second Test at Lord’s. The run-out was legal but triggered a “spirit of cricket” debate, and enraged England fans jeered Carey for the rest of the drawn series.

Wednesday’s escape may do little to boost his popularity in England but, in Adelaide, Carey had the home crowd chanting his name and he savoured a standing ovation when he reached his century.

“You’re not always going to be liked. Sometimes it depends which side of the fence you’re on,” said Carey. “There’s always heroes and villains.”