Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland admits it’s highly unlikely real time Snicko will be part of the decision review system for the coming Ashes series.
Responding to news that broadcaster Channel Nine has decided to dump the controversial Hot Spot technology from its coverage and therefore from DRS, Sutherland said CA had pushed for the new and improved Snicko to be ratified for use by umpires, but that time was likely to beat them.
Sutherland also defended a broadcaster having such a massive influence over determining match conditions.
He said Hot Spot has always been a commercial venture between inventor Warren Brennan and Nine.
Hot Spot lost support and the confidence of players during the last Ashes series, and now it’s no longer an option for the return campaign third umpires will only have access to Hawk eye, slow motion replays and stump microphones when decisions are sent upstairs for review.
Real time Snicko, which will be part of Nine’s coverage, allows viewers to simultaneously watch vibrations on Snicko as well as side-on vision of the ball passing the edge.
The technology provides a more accurate verdict on whether noise should constitute a batsman being given out.
“We have said that we would like to see that if possible, but there are all sorts of protocols that need to go with this technology,” Sutherland said.
“I’m not ruling it out but I don’t want to raise anyone’s expectations.”
Australian coach Darren Lehmann said his players would support Snicko’s inclusion.
“If it’s up to speed, we’d have it,” he said.
“We’d have no dramas.”
Lehmann is also a supporter of making changes to umpires call.
At the moment, teams will still lose a review if proven wrong on umpire’s call, but Lehmann wants to see that rule changed so that 50/50 decisions aren’t so harsh that they cost a side a review.
Sutherland said the ICC is open to the change in the future, but at the moment they don’t want to rush in too many changes.
For the coming Ashes series, teams will have their reviews replenished after 80 overs and the ICC only wanted to make one change at a time.
At a briefing in Sydney on Thursday, CA also reiterated its support for cricket to one day become an Olympic sport and for day-night Tests to eventually be commonplace.
