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Scott Bailey

Shambolic Snicko: Aussie star urges ICC to take action

Left-arm wizard Mitchell Starc wants the ICC to step up in the wake of more DRS controversy. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Mitchell Starc has called for the ICC to fund and implement universal decision review technology, after declaring Snicko should be "sacked" during Australia's Ashes win in Adelaide.

Frustrations over Snicko's reliability dominated the Adelaide Test, after its operators admitted an error was responsible for Alex Carey surviving a pivotal caught behind appeal on day one.

Carey, on 72 at the time, scored 106. Australia should have fallen to 7-245 but instead posted a first-innings total of 371.

There was further drama on day two, when Englishman Jamie Smith first survived a close Snicko call, before then being given out caught behind in similar circumstances a few overs later.

Among the challenges with Snicko remains the fact that audio and vision aren't always perfectly synchronised, with umpires allowing for a small gap between the two.

As things stand, the ICC has approved both Snicko and UltraEdge for use in Tests.

The host broadcaster can decide which one is used, with Snicko understood to be the cheaper of the two options.

UltraEdge is used in most countries around the world, as well as in the Big Bash League.

It was developed in 2016 and is generally viewed by players as being more accurate, using hawk-eye technology to match it to the sound.

The ICC pays for and uses UltraEdge for World Cups and global trophies, but not for bilateral series in the World Test Championship.

Travis Head of Australia
Travis Head had a word with umpire Nitin Menon as the DRS drama unfolded in Adelaide. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

"The officials use it, right? So why doesn't the ICC pay for it?" Starc queried, after Australia's 82-run win that wrapped up the Ashes.

"And why is there not just one 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.

"I'm sure it's frustrating for everyone. Viewers, officials, broadcasters."

Starc's comments come after he stood next to the stump microphone during the Smith drama on day two and called for Snicko to be "sacked", labelling it the "worst technology".

Former Test captain Ricky Ponting claimed on Seven that umpires did not trust it, while England bowling coach David Saker also raised concerns.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief Paul Marsh told AAP during the Test that it was "nonsensical" that host broadcasters were able to choose which technology was used.

Speaking after the Test, Australia's captain Pat Cummins also pointed to inconsistencies in Snicko.

"The one here seems a little bit different to sometimes what you get overseas," Cummins said.

"It sometimes doesn't feel super-consistent. But you just crack on - whatever the umpire says."

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