Jamie Smith’s dismissal SPARKS controversy, former umpire Simon Taufel backs…

Former Umpire Simon Taufel backed the decision to dismiss England's wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith caught behind during the Perth Test, calling it a "correct decision".

New Delhi: Former international umpire Simon Taufel defended the decision to dismiss England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith caught behind during the Perth Test, calling it a “correct decision” and noting differences in edge-detection technologies between Australia and other countries.

During England’s second innings, Jamie Smith, struggling for space while attempting a pull off Brendan Doggett, was initially ruled not out by on-field umpire Nitin Menon, despite appeals from wicketkeeper Alex Carey and captain Steve Smith. Australian captain opted for a DRS review, and after a prolonged delay, TV umpire Sharfuddoula overturned the original decision.

Smith started to walk towards the pavilion after noticing a faint signal on the Real Time Snickometer (RTS) display on the big screen at Optus Stadium. However, he paused when the replay, slowed down, showed a tiny spike one frame after the ball passed the bat, causing some confusion over the decision.

The decision was changed from not out to out

After four minutes of review, Sharfuddoula announced is decision, saying to Nitin, “There is a spike as the ball has just gone past the bat,” he said. I am satisfied the ball has made contact with the bat. My decision… Nitin, you need to change your decision from not out to out. There’s a clear spike as the ball had just passed the bat.”

Following the decision English fans looked frustrated, as they erupted in loud boos and sang, “Same old Aussies, always cheating.”

Simon Taufel said the decision was right

Taufel, on Channel 7, stated that the “right decision” had been made, highlighting the differences in “edge-detection technologies” used in Australia compared to other countries.

“This is the difficulty when we have two types of edge-detection technologies around the world,” Taufel said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “Primarily, we use Hawkeye Ultra-Edge. In Australia, it is one of the few countries in the world to use Real-Time Snicko,” he added.

“It is very difficult to come into a series with limited experience around how to judge RTS, but the conclusive evidence protocols with RTS are that 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 [Sharfuddoula] did not 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 [on] RTS after one frame past the bat, the batter has got to go,” he added.

Mark Waugh said this the longest decision he has ever seen

Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, covering the series for Kayo Sports, also suggested that Smith’s initial walk back may have played a role in the decision going Australia’s way.

“I think Smith gave it away there,” he said. “I do not think the umpire would have been convinced that he had hit that if he had stayed there. You have got to think if that takes that long to make a decision, there is got to be some doubt there. But when Smith walked off, I think that is what convinced the umpire. I think that is the longest DRS decision I think I have seen,” he concluded.