Such was the anger in the Australia camp that Mitchell Starc was overheard on the stump mic saying: “Snicko needs to be sacked… worst technology there is! They make a mistake the other day, they make another mistake today.”
The reason for his ire was a reprieve given to Jamie Smith in the 44th over of England’s innings. A sharp ball; from Australian captain Pat Cummins whizzed past the bat of Smith, which was raised till his shoulder. The Australians appealed for a dismissal. Since Smith’s hands were raised, there was a chance that the ball had kissed the glove on its way to the keeper. Usman Khawaja dove forwards at slip to complete the catch.
At this point, the on-field umpire Nitin Menon was not sure if Khawaja had taken the catch cleanly. So he sent the decision upstairs to take the third umpire’s help, even though the Australians had not opted to review the on-field call. Replays showed that there was no spike on Snicko when the ball passed Smith’s gloves but there was a massive spike as it whooshed past his helmet, so third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled it not out. The Australians were not amused by the decision. That’s when Starc let out his plea to sack Snicko.
WATCH: Mitchell Starc asks for Snicko needs to be sacked
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Smith’s joy was shortlived. Two overs later, against Cummins, he tried to slap away another rising ball, but missed. The ball was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey who led the appeal. Menon again went upstairs to check if Carey had taken the catch.
England’s Jamie Smith leaves the field after losing his wicket during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo)
This time–much to the displeasure of Smith and England captain Ben Stokes, who was at the other end– Snicko showed a huge spike, despite seeming like there was a huge gap between bat and ball. Gaffaney ruled it out, and Smith had to walk back to the pavilion on 22.
‘Snicko needs to be sacked… worst technology’: Mitchell Starc lashes out at tech after Jamie Smith incident in Ashes | Cricket News
A day after the England team were left livid at Snicko for giving a lifeline to Alex Carey during his century on the opening day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, it was the turn of the Australians to lash out at the technology. On Day 2 of the Adelaide Test, England wicket-keeper Jamie Smith was involved in two decisions with Snicko that left both sides angry.
Such was the anger in the Australia camp that Mitchell Starc was overheard on the stump mic saying: “Snicko needs to be sacked… worst technology there is! They make a mistake the other day, they make another mistake today.”
The reason for his ire was a reprieve given to Jamie Smith in the 44th over of England’s innings. A sharp ball; from Australian captain Pat Cummins whizzed past the bat of Smith, which was raised till his shoulder. The Australians appealed for a dismissal. Since Smith’s hands were raised, there was a chance that the ball had kissed the glove on its way to the keeper. Usman Khawaja dove forwards at slip to complete the catch.
At this point, the on-field umpire Nitin Menon was not sure if Khawaja had taken the catch cleanly. So he sent the decision upstairs to take the third umpire’s help, even though the Australians had not opted to review the on-field call. Replays showed that there was no spike on Snicko when the ball passed Smith’s gloves but there was a massive spike as it whooshed past his helmet, so third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled it not out. The Australians were not amused by the decision. That’s when Starc let out his plea to sack Snicko.
WATCH: Mitchell Starc asks for Snicko needs to be sacked
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Smith’s joy was shortlived. Two overs later, against Cummins, he tried to slap away another rising ball, but missed. The ball was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey who led the appeal. Menon again went upstairs to check if Carey had taken the catch.
This time–much to the displeasure of Smith and England captain Ben Stokes, who was at the other end– Snicko showed a huge spike, despite seeming like there was a huge gap between bat and ball. Gaffaney ruled it out, and Smith had to walk back to the pavilion on 22.
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