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'Careers are on the line': Aussie cricket union blasts Snicko
Steve Larkin, AAP • December 19th, 2025 1:47 pm
Travis Head and Australian players query the use of Snicko in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Careers are at risk because of failing Snicko technology, Australian cricket's players' union says.
The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) is demanding an urgent review into the technology which has caused controversy in the Ashes.
ACA chief executive Paul Marsh says it's "nonsensical" that decision review technology rests with host broadcasters instead of cricket governing bodies.
"The players are frustrated," Marsh told AAP on Friday.
Australia's players are frustrated at Snicko's failings, players' union chief Paul Marsh says | Photo: Julian Smith/AAP
"Careers are on the line with this sort of stuff.
"If you go back to why it was brought in, it was to get the decisions right.
"And clearly we have had some issues in this match and other matches where it's not right so it's something that should be looked at urgently."
The Snicko technology - provided and operated by BBG Sports - being used in the Ashes is deployed and paid for by host broadcaster Fox Sports.
The broadcaster is using Snicko rather than the more accurate and more expensive UltraEdge technology, pioneered by Hawk-Eye Innovations and owned by Sony that is used in New Zealand.
Alex Carey makes Ashes history in front of his own | SEN Cricket
Marsh said the sport's global body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), or home-nation boards should pay for the technology.
"It doesn't actually make any sense that it's on the broadcasters to carry the cost of this," he said.
"Their interests aren't aligned, they're different, they're about producing the broadcast for people watching.
"The game is the one that should be making sure that the right technology is making the right decisions.
"It's nonsensical that it doesn't sit with the ICC or the home boards."
Cricket Australia has distanced the organisation from the ongoing furore, leaving it as a matter for host broadcasters.
A Fox Sports spokesman declined to comment on Friday.
"People are seeing there is an issue here that needs to be looked at," Marsh said.
"We have got other parts of the world that are doing it differently and better so it's not like there's not a model out there to have a look at."
England and Australian camps have become increasingly agitated at Snicko during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Englishman Jamie Smith departs Adelaide Oval after being given out in another Snicko flashpoint | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
There have been several Snicko flashpoints, including Australia's Alex Carey surviving a caught-behind appeal on day one when replays showed a spike on Snicko before the ball even reached his bat.
Carey admitted he edged the ball and BBG Sports conceded human error was behind the Snicko mistake.
Two more Snicko incidents when England's Jamie Smith was batting on Thursday enraged both teams.
"Snicko needs to be sacked," Australian paceman Mitchell Starc was heard saying on stump microphones on Thursday.
"That's the worst technology there is."
Tune into Sport Nation for live ball-by-ball commentary of The Ashes series - the third Test continues on Sport Nation Extra via the Sport Nation app - thanks to SEN.
