Sports

Snicko Provider Admits Wrong Microphone Used in Alex Carey DRS Controversy

7:52 pm - December 17, 2025
Sports

ADELAIDE: The Decision Review System (DRS) malfunction that controversially reprieved Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey on the first day of the third Ashes Test has been traced to a technical error, with the technology provider taking full responsibility for the mistake.

Carey, who admitted edging the ball to the keeper when on 72, survived the review after TV umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled “Not Out.” Carey subsequently went on to score a crucial century (106) in Australia’s total of 326-8 at the Adelaide Oval.

BBG Sports, the company that owns and provides the Snicko technology, confirmed the system failure was due to human error.

“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.”

It is understood the sound used to process the review was mistakenly taken from the stump microphone at the bowler’s end, rather than the required audio from the striker’s end.

This selection error caused a crucial discrepancy: the Snicko graphic shown to Gaffaney displayed a large sound spike, but the visual evidence suggested the ball was away from the bat when the sound occurred. As the technology appeared not to align, the original “Not Out” call by on-field umpire Ahsan Raza was upheld.

The decision review system technology, which is mandatory in matches played under the World Test Championship, is supplied by the home team’s host TV broadcaster. In this series, the host broadcaster, Fox Sports, uses BBG to provide Snicko.

BBG Sports has confirmed it will investigate the internal error and “take steps to ensure it will not be repeated.” England have formally raised the matter with match referee Jeff Crowe, amid a series of inconclusive incidents involving the Snicko system throughout the current Ashes tour.