Jonny Bairstow stumping, Stuart Broad's 'no walk': Where does Alex Carey's 'snicko-gate' rank in biggest Ashes controversies?
Updated 17/12/2025 at 13:45 GMT
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Alex Carey was controversially allowed to keep batting on day one of the third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test, despite being caught behind in Adelaide. Snicko technology failed to match up the sound of his bat with the pictures correctly, so England's review was overturned, in what BBG Sports have confirmed was an error. Where does it rank in the most controversial Ashes moments?
Highlights: England star in the field but Carey century gives Australia hope on Day One
Video credit: TNT Sports
Day one of the third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test threw up another big controversy to add to the history books.
When England and Australia meet, there is inevitably a contentious moment or two along the way and Alex Carey was, once again, involved this time around.
Where does Snicko’s "incorrect stump mic" failure rank in the all-time Ashes scandals?
Carey survives as Snicko fails
BBG Sports, the company that owns Snicko, have taken "full responsibility" for the failure to dismiss Alex Carey when he was caught behind - 73 runs into his 106-run innings in Adelaide.
Carey admitted to hearing "some sort of noise", but did not walk and got away with it as Snicko’s sound and pictures failed to match up correctly when England reviewed the on-field ‘not out’ decision.
England bowling coach David Saker said: "We shouldn't be talking about this after a day's play, it should just be better than that. It is what it is."
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'Where's the noise coming from?' - Snicko confusion debated as Carey survives
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bairstow left fuming by Lord’s stumping
Carey was at the centre of the biggest controversy of the previous Ashes series, too, in 2023.
On the final day of the second Test at Lord’s, Jonny Bairstow ducked a bouncer from Cameron Green and - thinking the over had finished - scratched the crease with his foot before starting to walk towards the non-striker’s end.
As Bairstow left the crease, Carey threw the ball at the stumps and the England batter was dismissed for 10 runs.
England went on to lose the match by 43 runs to go 2-0 down in the series, with England captain Ben Stokes slamming Carey’s decision, saying he would not want to win "in that manner".
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Jonny Bairstow stumping
Image credit: Getty Images
Broad’s infamous Trent Bridge ‘no walk’
Carey replied "clearly not" when asked if he was a ‘walker’ after the Snicko incident in Adelaide - something former England bowler Stuart Broad can relate to.
In 2013 at Trent Bridge, Broad clearly edged Ashton Agar’s delivery behind but the umpire ignored Australian appeals and gave him not out.
Broad stood tall, claimed he did not hit it and, because Australia had no reviews left, continued batting as England went on to win the opening Test of the series.
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Stuart Broad no-walk
Image credit: Getty Images
Lillee tests the metal
During the 1979 Perth Test, Australia’s Dennis Lillee stunned his opponents when he walked onto the field with an aluminium bat.
There were no rules at the time to say he could not use a metal bat, but England argued vehemently that it was causing damage to the ball.
After discussions between the teams, the umpires asked Lillee to switch bats.
Lillee furiously objected and after his captain, Greg Chappell, intervened, the Australian threw the bat from the pitch.
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Bodyline bowling threatens trade boycott
England’s sportsmanship came into question in 1932 when Harold Larwood used a new bowling technique, which became known as ‘bodyline’.
He dismissed ten batsmen in the first Test as he aimed the ball directly at his opponents in Sydney, with England going on to win the match by 10 wickets.
A row broke out about England’s methods - which were later banned from the game - and it even led to a diplomatic incident due to threats of a trade boycott in Britain.
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Bodyline bowling
Image credit: Getty Images
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