On December 17, the ICC quietly admitted that Alex Carey’s not-out call contained an error.The Snicko controversy became the loudest noise in Adelaide. For England, already trailing in the series, it was the sort of moment that makes you stare into the distance and question the universe. One decision, one review, and suddenly a crucial wicket was gone, with Alex Carey not out written firmly into the scorebook.

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The Moment That Lit The Fuse

The incident itself felt simple enough at first. Carey, on 72, wafted at a Josh Tongue delivery that carried through to the keeper. Jamie Smith and the slips were convinced. England reviewed immediately. Then came the pause, the replay, and the now-infamous spike. Snicko showed a noise, but it appeared a fraction before the ball reached the bat. Because the visuals and audio didn’t align, the third umpire stuck with the on-field decision. Alex Carey not out.

England were convinced that Alex Carey was gone, but what’s your take here?#Ashes | #DRSChallenge | @Westpac pic.twitter.com/g7bp7ptQXO

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2025

What made matters worse, or better, depending on your accent, was what followed. Carey didn’t just survive; he thrived. He batted with freedom, confidence, and the unmistakable calm of a man who knows fortune has smiled on him. By stumps, he had turned that slice of luck into a superb century, eventually falling for 106. Australia surged to 326 for eight, and England were left wondering how different the day might have looked without the Alex Carey not out decision. In the space of a session, the Snicko controversy had gone from technical footnote to match-defining moment.

Carey Faces The Music

To his credit, Carey didn’t hide behind platitudes afterwards. Speaking to the media, he openly admitted that he heard something as the ball passed the bat.

“I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat,” Carey said. “It looked a bit funny on the replay, didn’t it, with the noise coming a bit early… Snicko obviously didn’t line up.”

Asked if he was the sort of player who would walk, Carey smiled and replied: “Clearly not.” Honest, light-hearted, and very Australian though none of it did much to quiet the Snicko controversy.

🗣️ “It’s just the way cricket goes sometimes, isn’t it?”

Alex Carey speaks on his Snicko reprieve 👀#TheAshes pic.twitter.com/2fmHuI9RVF

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 17, 2025

From England’s perspective, the reaction was far less relaxed. Bowling coach David Saker made it clear the side felt hard done by. “The boys were pretty confident he hit it,” Saker said. He went further, questioning the reliability of the technology across the series: “I think the snicko’s been out quite a bit… you’d think in this day and age the technology’s good enough to pick things up like that.” For a team already under pressure, seeing Alex Carey not out after such a strong appeal felt like salt in an open wound.

BBG Sports Hold Their Hands Up

Then came the key admission. BBG Sports, the company operating the system, acknowledged an error. In a statement, they said:

“Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the Snicko operator selected the incorrect stump microphone.”

They added plainly: “BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.”
It turned out the audio used came from the bowler’s-end mic rather than the striker’s end — a small mistake with enormous consequences, and fuel poured directly onto the Snicko controversy fire.

Wild situation. Alex Carey admits he edged behind on 72, and now BBG Sports, who own Snicko, takes “full responsibility” and says human error was involved. pic.twitter.com/GgeZnarliF

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) December 17, 2025

The ICC responded by reinstating England’s lost review, acknowledging a technical failure. Under the laws, if the decision review system in cricket cannot complete a decision properly due to technology error, teams are entitled to get the review back. England head coach Brendon McCullum and team manager Wayne Bentley raised concerns with match referee Jeff Crowe, and the review was duly returned. Sensible, perhaps, but it did little to erase the memory of Alex Carey not out or the runs that followed.

A Wider Problem With Technology

Former players were quick to weigh in. Ricky Ponting, speaking on Channel 7, questioned whether umpires can fully trust the current systems.

“This technology that we are using here is simply not as good as technology used in other countries,” Ponting said.

He added that third umpires sometimes rely on gut feel because the decision review system in cricket doesn’t always deliver clarity. That, he argued, “can’t happen”. When technology becomes the story, the game itself tends to suffer.

“There have been some things that don’t measure up”

England bowling coach David Saker admitted there have been ‘concerns’ around the Snicko technology during The Ashes, following Alex Carey’s incorrect not out decision in Adelaide caused by operator error. pic.twitter.com/furHot0iSI

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2025

Beyond one Test match, this incident has reignited debate about consistency. Different countries use different sound-detection systems. Some rely on UltraEdge, others on RTS. Players, coaches, and fans are left wondering whether the decision review system in cricket is truly standardised. The Snicko controversy surrounding Carey has simply exposed cracks that have existed for some time, especially when decisions hinge on split-second audio alignment.

The company that owns Snicko has admitted an “operator error” led to Alex Carey being wrongly given not out for caught behind against England. 😳

Carey, who was on 72 at the time, went on to make 106. #Ashes #BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/MF2okgtcOY

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) December 17, 2025

In the end, cricket remains a game of fine margins. Carey played brilliantly, England bowled well in patches, and technology did what it often does — complicate matters. The scoreboard will forever say Alex Carey not out at 72, followed by a century. But the debate will linger far longer than the scorecard. As long as the decision review system in cricket leaves room for doubt, moments like this will continue to dominate conversations long after the last ball is bowled.