Snicko blunder exposed, how a wrong microphone changed Carey’s Ashes fate
According to BBC Sport, which reported the findings from those responsible for the technology, the controversial decision involving Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey was caused by operator error rather than a fault in the Snicko system itself.
Technology error behind key Ashes moment
Alex Carey survived a dismissal on 72 during the third Ashes Test after a review failed to detect an edge before the ball was caught. Carey later acknowledged that he had made contact with the delivery, confirming England’s suspicions about the decision.
The reprieve proved costly for the visitors. Carey went on to score 106 as Australia closed day one on 326 for 8 at the Adelaide Oval, turning a disputed moment into a match shaping innings that dominated post play discussion.
Snicko operator accepts responsibility
According to BBC Sport reporting by Stephan Shemilt and Matthew Henry, BBG Sports, the company that owns and operates the Snicko technology, has accepted responsibility for the mistake. The firm said the issue was not with the system itself, but with how it was used during the review.
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“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,” BBG told BBC Sport.
“In light of this, BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.”
How the review system failed
It is understood that the audio used during the decision review was taken from the stump microphone at the bowler’s end rather than the striker’s end. This led to a mismatch between the visual footage and the sound wave presented to television umpire Chris Gaffaney, undermining the accuracy of the review.
BBG Sports has said it will conduct an internal investigation and introduce safeguards to prevent similar errors. Snicko forms part of the wider decision review system that is mandatory in World Test Championship matches.
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Spotlight on broadcast technology in elite cricket
Under international regulations, review technology is supplied by the host broadcaster. In this case, Fox held the broadcast rights and contracted BBG to operate Snicko. Fox has declined to comment on the incident.
The episode has renewed debate about the reliance on broadcast operated technology in high stakes Test cricket, with players and officials again questioning how much trust can be placed in systems that ultimately depend on human input.
Sources, BBC Sport
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