Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval was dominated by another explosive DRS controversy, with England batter Jamie Smith dismissed following a Snicko-based decision that left fans stunned. The call quickly became the latest flashpoint in a series already riddled with questions over the reliability of review technology.
The incident unfolded as Australia tightened their grip on the match, having earlier posted a commanding first-innings total. Smith was given out caught behind after an appeal was referred upstairs, despite initial replays suggesting the ball may have passed the bat without contact.
As the third umpire examined the evidence, the Snicko graph showed a spike that appeared noticeably out of sync with the moment the ball crossed the bat. Video footage showed a clear gap between bat and ball, yet the presence of the spike proved decisive in upholding the dismissal.
The ruling triggered an immediate backlash from viewers and analysts, who struggled to understand how the decision stood despite visual evidence suggesting otherwise. Many felt the reliance on misaligned audio data undermined the purpose of using technology to ensure fairness.
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Social media erupted within minutes, with fans branding the episode the worst Snicko blunder of the series. Memes, criticism and sarcastic commentary flooded timelines, as supporters from both sides questioned how such errors could persist at the highest level of Test cricket.
The dismissal added to a growing list of review controversies in the match, following earlier confusion involving similar technology. As the Ashes continue to deliver drama on and off the field, the ongoing Snicko saga has emerged as an unwanted but unavoidable subplot in the fiercely contested series.