KEY POINTS
- Clear Snicko spike misaligned with video, overturning England’s review.
- Carey admitted a nick, scored 106 after the dropped chance.
- BBG Sports blamed an “incorrect stump mic” selection by operator.
- Error shifted momentum as Australia reached 326/8 on Day 1.
ADELAIDE: The official technology supplier for the Decision Review System (DRS) in the Ashes, BBG Sports, has issued a public apology for a critical error that reprieved Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey on Day 1 of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval.
The mistake proved costly for England, as Carey went on to score a century, shifting the momentum of the match.
The Controversial Moment
The incident occurred in the 63rd over of Australia’s first innings. With Carey on 72, he edged a delivery from England’s Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. The on-field umpire, Ahsan Raza, gave it not out. England captain Ben Stokes immediately called for a review.
Q: “Are you a walker?”
Alex Carey: “Clearly not.” 😉#Ashes https://t.co/eSn1sXsqu0 pic.twitter.com/R3r9jPUcJc
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2025
Replay technology showed a clear spike on the Real-Time Snickometer as the ball passed the bat. However, in a crucial malfunction, the audio spike appeared three to four frames before the visual of the ball passing the bat. This desynchronisation led TV umpire Chris Gaffaney to conclude there was a “clear gap” and that the spike was “before the bat,” upholding the on-field decision of not out.
Carey’s Admission and Century
After play, a centurion Carey admitted to Australian media, “I felt a feather on the ball.” He added wryly, “Snicko obviously didn’t line up, did it? That’s just the way cricket goes sometimes, you have a bit of luck.”
Alex Carey becomes the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a men's Ashes century in the last 12 years 💯🇦🇺#Ashes2025 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/nOB2scM2JW
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 17, 2025
Carey capitalised on the life, scoring 106, his first Ashes century, and forming a vital partnership with Usman Khawaja (82) to steer Australia to a commanding 326/8 at stumps.
BBG Sports Takes “Full Responsibility”
BBG Sports founder Warren Brennan addressed the error head-on. Speaking to the Australian media, he stated, “Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing. In light of this, BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.”
Match Context
The error marred an otherwise fiercely contested day. England’s bowlers toiled in the Adelaide heat, with Mitchell Starc (33*) and Nathan Lyon providing stubborn late resistance. The reprieve and subsequent century by Carey have left England facing a significant deficit and renewed questions about the reliability of the technology meant to eliminate such umpiring injustices.
