Starc urges ICC to act after Snicko goof-ups

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has put pressure on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take responsibility for the Decision Review System (DRS), insisting that inconsistency in technology use is undermining confidence in the system. There were questionable decisions involving Real Time Snicko in the Adelaide Test, and the left-arm pacer urged the cricket governing body to step in.

Speaking after Australia secured an 82-run victory for a 3-0 Ashes lead, Starc questioned the current system's structure and funding. He noted that frustration extends beyond players to fans, officials, and broadcasters.

"I'm sure it's frustrating for everyone, viewers, officials, and broadcasters, no doubt. 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?" questioned Starc.

"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?"

The comments come amid mounting frustration over controversial DRS decisions, especially when the Snicko edge-detection system produced puzzling results during the third Test in Adelaide. During play, Starc was heard on the stump mic calling for the technology to be removed, branding it the "worst technology" and saying "Snicko needs to be sacked".

Two edge detection systems are currently approved by the ICC, with UltraEdge being the other. Snicko is used in Australia and New Zealand, while countries like India, England and South Africa rely on UltraEdge.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said during the Test that Snicko was unreliable and umpires do not trust it. "This technology that we are using here is simply not as good as technology that's used in other countries," he told Channel 7. "You talk to the umpires, they'll tell you the same thing. They can't trust it."

Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, also noted the Snicko technology differed from UltraEdge. "The one here seems a little bit different to sometimes what you get overseas. There's always a few murmurs. It sometimes doesn't feel super consistent, but you just crack on whatever the umpire says."