The company responsible for operating the crucial 'Snicko' technology used in cricket's Decision Review System (DRS) has issued a formal apology after a significant error during the Ashes series. The mistake occurred during a pivotal moment involving Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The Controversial Moment at Lord's
During the second Ashes Test at Lord's, a major controversy erupted over a dismissed catch. England's Ben Duckett edged a delivery from Australian bowler Mitchell Starc, with the ball appearing to be cleanly caught by Alex Carey low to the ground. The on-field umpires, however, referred the decision to the third umpire, Marais Erasmus, to check the legitimacy of the catch.
In the review process, the Snicko audio spike – a key piece of evidence generated by BBG Sports' technology – was not properly synchronised with the slow-motion video footage. This technical failure led third umpire Erasmus to conclude the ball had touched the grass before Carey secured it, resulting in the decision of 'not out'. Replays later clearly showed Carey had caught the ball cleanly.
BBG Sports Accepts Responsibility
BBG Sports, the UK-based firm that operates the Snicko and Ball Tracking technology for the International Cricket Council (ICC), has taken full responsibility for the error. In a statement, the company acknowledged a "human error" in the calibration process led to the misalignment of the audio and video data presented to the third umpire.
The company confirmed the Snicko spike shown to Erasmus was from the previous ball, not the one in question. This critical mistake directly influenced the incorrect 'not out' decision, depriving Australia of a key wicket. The incident has sparked intense debate about the reliability of technology in officiating the sport at its highest level.
Reactions and Wider Implications
The blunder left the Australian team, particularly captain Pat Cummins and Alex Carey, visibly frustrated on the field. Cricket commentators and fans widely criticised the error, labelling it an unacceptable failure in a high-stakes series like the Ashes.
This incident has placed the ICC's reliance on technology under renewed scrutiny. While the DRS system aims to eliminate obvious mistakes, this event highlights how human operation of complex technology remains a potential point of failure. BBG Sports has stated it is reviewing its internal processes to prevent a repeat occurrence.
The apology, while accepted by some, does not change the outcome of the match moment. The error occurred during a tense period of the Test match, potentially altering the match's momentum. It serves as a stark reminder that in the modern game, where millimetres and milliseconds decide outcomes, the systems in place must be flawless.
