The players' union for Australian cricket has issued a stark warning, stating that professional careers are being jeopardised by the inconsistent performance of the Snicko technology being used in the Ashes series.
Players' Union Calls for Immediate Overhaul
The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) is demanding an urgent, high-level review into the Decision Review System (DRS) technology, which has become a major point of controversy during the current Ashes contest. ACA chief executive Paul Marsh labelled the current setup as "nonsensical," highlighting that the critical technology rests with host broadcasters rather than the sport's governing bodies.
"The players are frustrated," Marsh told AAP on Friday. "Careers are on the line with this sort of stuff. If you go back to why it was brought in, it was to get the decisions right. And clearly we have had some issues in this match and other matches where it's not right, so it's something that should be looked at urgently."
The Root of the Problem: Cost and Control
The core issue, according to the ACA, is the funding and deployment model. The Snicko technology used in the Ashes is provided by BBG Sports, but it is deployed and paid for by the host broadcasters. This has led to a situation where Australian broadcasters are using the less accurate and less expensive Snicko, instead of the superior UltraEdge technology pioneered by Hawk-Eye Innovations.
UltraEdge, which is owned by Sony, is used in cricket matches worldwide except in Australia and New Zealand. Marsh argues that the sport's global body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), or the home-nation boards should be responsible for funding the technology to ensure consistency and accuracy.
"It doesn't actually make any sense that it's on the broadcasters to carry the cost of this," Marsh stated. "Their interests aren't aligned; they're different. They're about producing the broadcast for people watching. The game is the one that should be making sure that the right technology is making the right decisions. It's nonsensical that it doesn't sit with the ICC or the home boards."
Growing Frustration on the Field
Frustration with Snicko has boiled over during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, affecting both the English and Australian camps. Several flashpoints have occurred:
- Australia's Alex Carey survived a caught-behind appeal on day one when replays showed a spike on Snicko before the ball reached his bat. Carey later admitted he edged it, and BBG Sports blamed human error.
- Two further Snicko incidents involving England's Jamie Smith on Thursday left both teams enraged.
The sentiment was captured live on stump microphones, with Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc heard declaring, "Snicko needs to be sacked. That's the worst technology there is."
While Cricket Australia has distanced itself from the controversy, calling it a matter for host broadcasters, the ACA insists change is needed. "People are seeing there is an issue here that needs to be looked at," Marsh said. "We have got other parts of the world that are doing it differently and better, so it's not like there's not a model out there to have a look at."
