Last Updated on 4 months ago by Charbel Coorey
The Snicko vs. UltraEdge debate has reared to its head during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. A host of controversial calls has dominated headlines, with the snicko technology proving unreliable in the quest for correct decisions.
“They’ve got a third umpire sitting up in there that’s got to make decisions based on what he’s seeing that the technology is providing, and sometimes they have a gut feel that it’s not right,” Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“That can’t happen. You’ve got to be able to trust the technology that’s in place.”
Is UltraEdge better than Snicko? A look at the difference
Calls are growing louder for UltraEdge to be introduced in Australia. Currently, Real-Time Snicko (RTS) is employed down under and in New Zealand. UltraEdge is used in the rest of the world.
Speaking on the Western Province Cricket Umpires Assocation YouTube channel in February 2025, ex-umpire Marais Erasmus explained the difference between the two technologies
“They are set up slightly differently and the outcome works slightly differently,” he said. “Real-Time Snicko; we always have the snick just maybe one frame later than when it actually happened. Therefore the umpires are taught to interpret it in that way.
“Where with the UltraEdge, which is a Hawkeye product, the snick is at the time when it’s in the frame. Sometimes it might go into the next frame or start in the previous frame, but it’s more immediately, I think, probably easier for the viewers to understand, where RTS can give the impression that it’s after the fact.”
UltraEdge is considered superior as Hawkeye offers a higher frame-rate analysis of 340 frames per second. RTS’ tracking cameras offer 50 frames per second, as reported by Daily Mail.
Trent Copeland criticises the ICC for their stance
Calls are also growing louder for the ICC to fund use of Ultra Edge around the world. Currently, the choice of technology is paid for by the host broadcaster, who makes their decision based on factors such as budget.
Trent Copeland was critical of the ICC in his feature for Channel 7 after day two of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. He said the governing body shouldn’t leave it up to the broadcasters to make the call.
“I just want to take a step back from snicko for a moment and say the ICC make the host broadcaster make this choice. Then, they’re also asking them to foot the bill. Not only is the technology letting the sport down, but I think the ICC is as well,” Copeland said.
