Operator error behind controversial Carey reprieve

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey said he thought he edged the ball when he was given not out on review during day one of the third Ashes Test against England.

After surviving on 72, Carey went on to make a fine 106 to help the hosts reach 326-8 at the close in Adelaide.

The technology showed a large spike when England called for a review in the 63rd over but the TV pictures showed it coming before the ball had reached the bat.

"I thought there was a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat," said Carey.

"If I was given out I think I would have reviewed it, probably not confidently. It was a nice sound as it passed the bat."

There has been debate about 'Snicko', the technology used in such situations in Australia, throughout the series after a number of inconclusive incidents.

In the first Test in Perth, England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was given out caught behind on review despite a spike coming after the ball had passed his bat and glove.

That was explained as being because the technology used in Australia has a two-frame gap between the pictures and the sound wave.

Bowling coach David Saker suggested England may escalate this latest incident further with match referee Jeff Crowe.

"I don't think we've done anything about it so far but after today, maybe that might go a bit further," Saker said.

"There have been concerns about it for the whole series. We shouldn't be talking about this after a day's play, it should just be better than that. It is what it is."

Carey is not new to Ashes controversy. He was the wicketkeeper who famously stumped Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the 2023 series, resulting in a febrile final day.

On his reprieve he added: "Snicko obviously didn't line up. It is just the way cricket goes - sometimes you have a bit of luck.

"Maybe it went my way."

Carey was also asked if he is a 'walker' - the tradition where some batters leave the field without waiting for a decision if they believe they have hit the ball.

He joked "clearly not" in response.

Australia were 245-6 when Carey attempted a cut to Josh Tongue.

England appealed confidently, thinking they had heard an edge, but umpire Ahsan Raza was unmoved.

After captain Ben Stokes challenged the decision, the footage reviewed by TV umpire Chris Gaffaney showed a spike but this came before the ball had reached the bat.

Gaffaney also said he believed there was a gap between bat and ball.

As a result, Carey was given not out.

The technology is the responsibility of the host broadcaster, which is Fox Sports in Australia. Fox take Snicko from a company called BBG Sports.

"I am concerned about the Snicko," said BBC Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew. "We have had a number of incidents where the Snicko has not been good enough.

"I did talk to match referee Ranjan Madugalle in Brisbane and he said we are really concerned about Snicko in the series.

"It was a proper spike and appeared this time before the bat. It couldn't have been anything else. The software isn't working right. Carey should have been out caught behind."

Carey's century was his first in Ashes cricket and comes on the back of a superb performance with the gloves in the second Test in Brisbane.

He was booed by England fans throughout the final three Tests of the 2023 Ashes series because of his role in the Bairstow stumping but, on his home ground, the Adelaide crowd chanted his name on reaching three figures here.

It was also an emotional moment for Carey, whose father died in September. Carey's wife was in tears in the crowd as the batter celebrated by looking to the skies.

"To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family was special," said Carey.

"I guess you know as well why I was looking to the heavens. I'm trying not to tear up. But, no, it was great.

"To have, mum, brother, sister, Eloise, the kids here, it was a special moment."