The Ashes has not been short of its theatre over the years, but the “technology tension” in the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval has surpassed them all. By the close of play on Day 2, England were in a familiar and desperate condition – over 200 runs behind with series hopes slipping away. But the controversy, not only down the scoreline but a huge Snicko one that has made India furious and set the cricket world debating once more about DRS.
Chaos: Snicko The Decider That Shook Adelaide
The incident involved Australian centurion Alex Carey, who was dramatically reprieved when on 72. Carey prodded at a delivery from Josh Tongue, and England’s appeal for a caught-behind was swift and unanimous. It was turned down in the middle much to bewilderment after a review.
The Real-Time Snickometer (RTS) had also identified a spike, but there was one major synchronisation problem — the trough on our screen arrived three to four frames into Carey’s bat: substantially late. As the spike didn’t match up with the vision, third umpire Chris Gaffaney upheld the “not out” call. The story took a sensational twist at the end of the day’s play when BBG Sports, which supplies technological services to broadcasters, confirmed a “human error” had occurred and an operator had clicked on the wrong stump microphone for audio processing. But Carey added a crucial 106, an innings that might go down as decisive in the battle for the urn.
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England Disarray: Smith and Brook Out
As the debate over technology raged, the reality on the scoreboard continued to build ominously for Ben Stokes’s side. In response to Australia’s first-innings of 371, England have been undermined by the same brittleness that saw them lose the first two Tests.
By tea on the second day, England had collapsed to 132-5. Harry Brook (45) was dismissed to end the session, looking strong for a big score before he was caught at third slip by Alex Carey off Cameron Green. It was only a matter of time and, hot on its tail, the Snicko curse appeared to be back to haunt England. Jamie Smith, who is in ordinary form this series, was out as wickets continued to tumble with the middle order left exposed. England now at 6 down and a mountain of runs to stave the follow on off.
An Interview With a Cricket Fan: Can England Withstand the Adelaide Heat?
In 39C temperature, the physical and mental strain on The England camp is there for all to see. Jofra Archer gave the tourists a good sniff with a stunning three-wicket burst, but an underwhelming display from the English top order on a road has cost them the series.
Having been a contentious omission for Brisbane, Nathan Lyon has returned with a vengeance and produced turn and bounce that has troubled England’s left-handers. Should England fail to cobble together a commanding partnership in the final session, Australia could well have effectively retained the Ashes long before the series has even reached Melbourne.
