Ashes 2025-26: Smith dismissed on DRS in Perth as controversy erupts
England's Jamie Smith was ruled out after a lengthy third-umpire review in Perth, reigniting debate over snickometer and on-field decisions in the opening Test.
The Ashes in Perth delivers another twist
Day two of the opening Test in Perth brought a fresh controversy when England’s Jamie Smith was dismissed after a lengthy third-umpire review.
With England 104-6, Smith pulled a short ball from Mitchell Starc toward the leg side. Travis Head, at short leg, signalled a possible edge, and England’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey joined in the appeal. Umpire Nitin Menon ruled not out on the field but Australia immediately referred the decision for review.
The review process
TV umpire Sharfuddoula spent almost five minutes examining multiple angles. The initial replay seemed to show no contact after the bat. Smith began to walk, then hesitated as further footage was studied. Finally, after reviewing again, Sharfuddoula said there was a spike as the ball passed the bat and overturned the on-field call, sending Smith back to the pavilion with England at 104-7.
The question of the right call
The ICC playing conditions require the third umpire to overturn only when there is high confidence in the evidence; if not, the original decision should stand. In Perth, the debate focused on whether RTS data—Real Time Snickometer—provided a conclusive spike after the bat. Former umpires and pundits weighed in, with Simon Taufel arguing the spike can be conclusive and Michael Vaughan noting the lengthy delay but supporting the overturn in this case.
Reaction and context
The crowd at Perth Stadium reacted with boos as Smith departed. The incident highlighted ongoing tensions around technology decisions in the series and drew attention to the limitations of broadcast and data feeds, including the timing gap between footage and sound in RTS-based reviews.
Bottom line
The decision added to a day of Ashes talking points, underscoring how crucial on-field evidence and third-umpire interpretation continue to be in modern cricket.
Key takeaway: The overturned dismissal hinged on an RTS spike detected after the bat passed the ball, a ruling that sparked debate about what constitutes conclusive evidence in the DRS process. BBC Sport
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