Nasser Hussain says everyone has lost faith in Snicko after Ashes controversy
Snicko Under Fire: Nasser Hussain Says “Everyone Has Lost Faith” After Ashes Blunders
The third Ashes Test in Adelaide has sparked a major technological controversy that’s left players, commentators and fans questioning one of cricket’s most trusted decision-making tools. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has delivered a scathing verdict on the Snicko system after a series of questionable decisions turned Day 1 and Day 2 of the Adelaide Test into a debate about technology rather than cricket itself.
The drama began when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was given not out despite clear audio evidence suggesting he’d edged the ball to England keeper Jamie Smith. The Snicko showed no spike, Carey survived, and went on to score a crucial century. In a remarkable post-match admission, Carey himself confessed that he had indeed hit the ball and should have been given out.
If that wasn’t controversial enough, Day 2 brought an even more farcical incident when England’s Jamie Smith appeared to glove a delivery to the slip cordon but was reprieved when Snicko once again failed to detect clear contact. This time, it was Australia’s turn to feel aggrieved, with several players heard on the stump microphone calling the technology “a joke” and “a terrible system.”
Hussain delivers harsh reality check
Speaking on Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain didn’t mince words about the state of affairs. “England aren’t 2-0 down and had another bad day because of Snicko. England are not losing the Ashes because of the Snicko. But I will say everyone out here has lost faith in Snicko,” the former England skipper stated bluntly.
Hussain’s concern goes beyond individual decisions. He believes the repeated failures have created a dangerous precedent where third umpires are now forced to guess rather than rely on the technology. “You could hear on the stump mic, some of the Australian players saying ‘it’s a joke’ or that ‘it’s a terrible system’. The crowd in the stands or the people watching at home have completely lost faith with the system. Then you get into dangerous territory. You have the third umpire guessing. They’re trying to work out when the noise came, when did the ball go past the bat.”
The Jamie Smith incident labeled “farcical”
When discussing the Day 2 controversy involving Jamie Smith, Hussain was even more direct in his criticism. “It was farcical today. Jamie Smith clearly gloved one, to the slip cordon. All they were checking was whether Usman Khawaja took the catch cleanly or not. I’m not sure if Khawaja did take the catch cleanly. It looked like it could well have been a bump ball. That’s a 50-50 call. But it was overruled on the fact that the third umpire decided that the ball did not hit the glove because the Snicko was not quite aligned with it. It clearly hit the glove.”
The irony wasn’t lost on anyone that shortly after being given not out, Smith was then dismissed when he went for a pull shot. “You can imagine the frustration from Smith and Ben Stokes, they just could not believe it,” Hussain added.
Australia equally frustrated despite benefiting first
What makes this controversy particularly interesting is that both teams have been on the wrong end of poor Snicko decisions. While Carey benefited on Day 1, Australia were left seething when Smith escaped on Day 2. Hussain emphasized that past wrongs don’t justify present ones. “You can imagine Australia’s frustration. Forget the Carey thing yesterday. Two wrongs don’t make a right! So that Smith decision was just wrong.”
The Australian players’ reactions caught on stump microphones reveal genuine concern about the reliability of technology they’re supposed to trust. When your own teammates are openly questioning the system in the middle of an Ashes Test, you know there’s a serious problem.
Cricket’s technology gold standard under threat
Hussain’s final point struck at the heart of cricket’s proud record with technology. “So everyone out here has lost faith with the technology. That’s a dangerous place to be in. Cricket has set the tone in how technology is used in sport. It’s not like VAR in football where there’s been huge controversies.”
Cricket has long been held up as the example of how technology should be integrated into sport. The Decision Review System, when it works properly, has generally been praised for reducing howlers and giving players a fair chance to challenge umpiring errors. But when a core component like Snicko stops working reliably, the entire system’s credibility comes into question.
What is Snicko and why is it failing?
Snicko, or Real Time Snickometer, uses audio technology to detect when the ball makes contact with the bat, pad, or other equipment. It works by analyzing sound waves picked up by stump microphones and displaying them as waveforms synchronized with slow-motion video footage. A spike in the audio graph at the moment the ball passes the bat or glove indicates contact.
The technology has been a mainstay of the DRS for years and is generally considered reliable. However, the Adelaide Test has exposed potential flaws in how it’s calibrated or synchronized. If the audio is even fractionally out of sync with the video, it can lead to the exact scenarios witnessed in this match—clear visual evidence of contact with no corresponding spike on Snicko.
The bigger picture: England trail 2-0
While Hussain is right that England aren’t losing the Ashes because of Snicko, the timing of these controversies couldn’t be worse for Ben Stokes’ side. Already 2-0 down in the series after defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide, England need everything to go right if they’re to stage an unlikely comeback. Dodgy technology adding fuel to the fire of an already difficult tour is the last thing they need.
For Australia, leading 2-0 and on track to retain the Ashes, the Smith incident will feel like a missed opportunity to apply even more pressure. Carey’s century, whether legitimately scored or not, has already done significant damage to England’s chances. Having Smith also benefit from technology failure will leave a sour taste, regardless of the final result.
What happens next?
Cricket authorities and technology providers will undoubtedly review the Adelaide incidents closely. With the fourth Test in Melbourne and the fifth in Sydney still to come, getting Snicko working reliably is crucial—not just for this series, but for maintaining cricket’s reputation as a sport that uses technology well.
In the short term, third umpires may need to place more weight on visual evidence and common sense when Snicko appears to contradict what everyone can clearly see. As Hussain warned, having umpires guess because they don’t trust the technology is a dangerous road to go down.
The Ashes has always been about fierce competition, memorable performances, and moments of drama. But it should be decided by the players, not by faulty technology that’s lost the faith of everyone involved.