Former international umpire Simon Taufel has backed the decision to give England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith out caught behind following a DRS review during the Perth Test, stating that the “correct decision” was ultimately made. Taufel also highlighted that the edge-detection technology used in Australia differs from systems used in other parts of the world.
The incident occurred during England’s second innings when Smith, cramped for room while attempting a pull shot off Brendan Doggett, was initially given not out by on-field umpire Nitin Menon. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey and captain Steve Smith were confident there was an edge, prompting Australia to send the decision upstairs.
The review generated confusion and debate. Jamie Smith began walking back after seeing a faint murmur on the Real Time Snickometer (RTS) displayed on the big screen at Optus Stadium. However, he paused when the footage was slowed down, revealing a spike appearing a frame after the ball had passed the bat.
After nearly four minutes of examination, TV umpire Sharfuddoula ruled that the ball had indeed brushed the bat.
“There is a spike as the ball has just gone past the bat,” he told Menon. “I am satisfied the ball has made contact with the bat. You need to change your decision from not out to out.”
Speaking on Channel 7’s coverage, Taufel supported the call, noting that viewers must understand the differences in edge-detection systems used globally. According to him, the technology in Australia operates differently from those in other countries, which can cause variations in how edges appear on RTS or related tools.
