Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc raised concerns about the Decision Review System technology following the third Ashes 2025-26 Test against England. Mitchell Starc said that the ICC should take responsibility for the several controversial moments involving Real Time Snicko during the Ashes, especially in the Adelaide Test.
Tensions over Real Time Snicko flared during the Ashes. England were granted a lost review after match referee Jeff Crowe accepted that an operator mistake had wrongly saved Alex Carey on the opening day. The admission from Snicko providers, BBG Sports, brought the reliability of the system into question.
The controversy continued on the second day, and Starc was later heard on the stump mic criticizing the technology. Notably, the ECB and Cricket Australia are expected to lobby the ICC over these DRS issues.
Why Doesn’t the ICC Pay for It?” – Mitchell Starc on DRS Amid Snicko Complaints
Mitchell Starc said that the ICC should take full responsibility for the Decision Review System. The Australian fast bowler said that the ICC should fund DRS worldwide and rely on a single technology provider for all international matches, ensuring consistency across different series.
“I’m sure it’s frustrating for everyone, viewers, officials, broadcasters no doubt,” Mitchell Starc said. “One thing I will say … I’m only going to speak for myself here, the officials use it, right? So why doesn’t the ICC pay for it?”
“And why is it not just one [provider] across the board? Why don’t we use the same technology in all different series that’s going to perhaps create less confusion, less frustration? So that’s where I’ll leave that,” Mitchell Starc added.
It Sometimes Doesn’t Feel Super Consistent – Pat Cummins
Australia captain Pat Cummins stated that there were noticeable differences in the technology. He said that the system used in the Ashes series did not always feel the same as UltraEdge seen in other countries, which led to doubts among players.
“The one here seems a little bit different to sometimes what you get overseas,” Cummins said. “There’s always a few murmurs. You’re hoping that it matches up if you’re the bowling team.”
“Sometimes you kind of just making sure that it’s all okay if you’re batting, even though you feel like you haven’t hit it. It sometimes doesn’t feel super consistent, but you just crack on whatever the umpire says,” he added.
Use of RTS and UltraEdge Under Spotlight During Ashes
The International Cricket Council currently approves two sound-based systems: Real Time Snicko (RTS), which is used in Australia, and UltraEdge, which is used in most other countries. Notably, the ICC pays for UltraEdge during World Cups and major global events, but not for bilateral Test series.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting criticized RTS during the third Test. He said that umpires cannot trust it and added that UltraEdge works better. UltraEdge is used in the Big Bash League and in most international matches around the world.
The technology cannot be changed during a series, meaning RTS will continue to be used for the remaining Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia have already retained the Ashes after winning the third Test in Adelaide and will next face England in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG starting December 26.
Also read: Travis Head destroys Stuart Broad with a cheeky four-word dig after Australia retain the Ashes
