‘I just don’t get it’: Stokes calls for tech reform after Snicko costs England again

England captain Ben Stokes has called for DRS technology to be standardised across world cricket after another controversial Snicko decision went against them, sparking a fiery confrontation between Brydon Carse and Jake Weatherald, Travis Head and an umpire.

Carse could face scrutiny from match referee Jeff Crowe for making contact with both Head and umpire Ahsan Raza at the SCG on Thursday as he fumed over Weatherald’s lucky break on day five of the fifth Ashes Test, early in Australia’s successful run chase of 160.

Reza did not raise his finger after a strong appeal by England’s players, who believed Weatherald nicked a Carse delivery to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Stokes sent the decision upstairs, but the third umpire did not overturn it – even though there was a faint but noticeable spike on Snicko as the ball passed Weatherald’s bat, which the Barmy Army celebrated each time the footage was replayed on the big screen.

But the cheers of the touring English fans turned to boos when the review was rejected. An infuriated Carse took his complaints straight to Raza, and appeared to put his arm on the umpire’s shoulder before Stokes stepped in and moved him on.

Carse then exchanged words with Weatherald after delivering the final ball of his over, and bumped into Head on his way back to his mark.

Australian and English players have expressed dismay with Snicko during the series, particularly during the third Test in Adelaide, where the technology’s faults and the lack of regulatory consistency in cricket became a talking point.

After day one at Adelaide Oval, the company responsible for Snicko took “full responsibility” for a human error, which meant that Alex Carey, who would go on to score a century, was not given out on 72 when he nicked a ball behind.

Stokes said he spoke to Crowe about that incident at the time and accepted that it was correct based on the guidelines that umpires have to follow - but this one, he couldn’t get his head around, and echoing Mitchell Starc’s belief that the same technology should be enforced by the ICC everywhere.

“This one here, I just thought was out,” Stokes said. “There was a noise, a frame after the ball obviously passes the bat ... so it should have been given out.

“Where has the consistency gone? I just don’t get it. Why do we not use the same technology all around the world?

“This kind of stuff shouldn’t be spoken about, because that’s not the reason why we’ve lost [the series] 4-1, but the fact that it keeps on coming up ... something should be done about it. Just use the same technology everywhere just so we don’t have to sit up here and have these conversations.”

The ECB, meanwhile, has confirmed it will undertake a comprehensive review into a series that ended with a whimper after such high hopes.

“This Ashes tour began with significant hope and anticipation, and it is therefore deeply disappointing that we have been unable to fulfil our ambition of winning the Ashes in Australia,” chief executive Richard Gould said.

“We will take many lessons from this tour and are determined to improve quickly. Our focus is on regaining the Ashes in 2027. A thorough review of the campaign is already underway. This will cover tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require.”

Speaking in commentary on Fox Cricket, Adam Gilchrist credited Stokes for intervening when he did and dragging an angry Carse away from Raza, while also admitting he could understand why England would have felt aggrieved, while Michael Vaughan also believed Weatherald should have been given out.

Thursday was not the first time that the bad blood between the two sides in Sydney was evident.

On day two, Stokes twice told Marnus Labuschagne to “shut the f--- up” and then put his arm around the back of his neck in an argument that his former teammate Stuart Broad said had formed part of England’s strategy to get him out.

“I chatted to Stokesy this morning, I’m not breaking any trust by saying this. Marnus was saying, ‘Oh that’s going down leg’, or, ‘That’s four runs’,” Broad explained on Channel Seven.

“He [Stokes] was saying, ‘We’ve got two umpires out here, we don’t need three.’

“So it was all quite polite, but what happens is, it got Labuschagne out of his bubble, and that’s a plan of England: get him out of routines – and the next ball Ben Stokes bowls, he drives at one that’s a bit wide, moves away, and he’s out.”

Stokes was not punished for his altercation with Labuschagne.