The first Test of the 2025 Ashes was underway at Perth Stadium, and as the second day ended, the entire cricketing world erupted over a decision.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith was given out by the third umpire, following a DRS review that lasted over four minutes.
On-field umpire Nitin Menon had declared Smith not out, but Australia captain Steve Smith immediately took a review. Travis Head, standing at short leg, shouted that he heard a sound, and Alex Carey also appealed vehemently.
Smith attempted to glance a short ball down the leg side, but the small blip on Snicko didn’t match the frame of the ball. Instead, the sound came one frame later, as if it had touched his thigh pad.
England fans booed loudly from the stands when Smith returned to the pavilion. Smith had started walking but then stopped, leaving his England teammates stunned.
Third umpire’s decision and Simon Taufel’s clarification
Third umpire Sharfud-ud-Daula Saikat reversed the decision after a lengthy discussion.
He said, “I can see a spike as the ball has just passed the bat. My decision will be: change your decision from not out to out.”
This caused a rush in the England camp. Former umpire Simon Taufel defended the decision in an interview with 7Cricket.
He said, “The conclusive evidence protocols with RTS – if you get a spike up to one frame past the bat, that is conclusive. And in this particular case, that is exactly what was there. Unfortunately, he didn’t want to pull the trigger quite as quickly as perhaps he could have or should have. And the guys in the truck were doing their utmost to show him and to slow it down and to try rocking and rolling that frame. For me, the correct decision was made. A spike RTS after one frame past the bat, the batter has got to go.”
Toffel said that according to the rules of real-time Snicko, it was an out, even if there was a slight doubt.
But former England captain Michael Vaughan said,
“When Jamie Smith saw it he was walking off. His reaction was not a reaction of someone disgusted with that decision. He is a quiet guy but there was not a lot of disgruntlement with that England pair.”
This decision was similar to Marnus Labuschagne’s not out on the first day, where a similar murmur was seen on Snicko, but the decision was not overturned.
Australia’s Chase and the Twist of the Match
England’s second innings collapsed terribly, going from 65/1 to 88/6. Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc performed brilliantly, dismissing Joe Root and Ben Stokes in both innings, taking 10 wickets.
Nevertheless, England took a 200-run lead, setting Australia a target of 205. Australia changed their opening pair; Usman Khawaja was unfit, so Travis Head was sent in to open the innings.
Head began the chase with Jake Weatherald, taking two runs off Jofra Archer’s first over. Australia were still 0 for 2, but the Test ended in a thrilling finish.
England’s Gus Atkinson made 37, sharing a 50-run partnership with Brydon Carse. The controversy is adding further heat to the Ashes, where drama is always prevalent.
