ENG vs AUS: Simon Taufel backs controversial DRS call on Jamie Smith’s dismissal in first Ashes Test

England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith was at the center of a major DRS controversy on the second day of the first Ashes Test in Perth after being given out caught behind on review. Batting on 15, Smith was cramped for room while attempting to pull a back-of-a-length delivery from Brendan Doggett and was initially given not out by on-field umpire Nitin Menon. However, Australia captain Steven Smith opted for a review following loud appeals from Travis Head at short leg and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

The decision went to TV umpire Sharfuddoula, who took almost four minutes and several replays before overturning the on-field call. The moment became even more dramatic when Jamie Smith started walking away after witnessing a subtle spike on the Real Time Snickometer (RTS) that was being displayed on the big screen. But he hesitated as a slowed-down clip showed the spike occurring a frame after the ball had passed the bat, leading to uncertainty about the timing of the contact.

Despite the ambiguity, Sharfuddoula ruled Smith out, saying the evidence indicated contact with the bat. Former international umpire Simon Taufel later backed the TV umpire’s decision, stressing the importance of using all available technology consistently throughout a series. Thousands of England fans disagreed, booing loudly and chanting, “Same old Aussies, always cheating.”

Taufel Backs Decision; Waugh Says Smith’s Reaction Played a Role

During the broadcast, Sharfuddoula explained his reasoning: “[There is a] spike as the ball has just gone past the bat. [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].” Taufel supported this, pointing out the challenges of different technologies: “This is the difficulty when we have two types of edge-detection technologies around the world… 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.” He added that the TV umpire “didn't want to pull the trigger quite as quickly as perhaps he could have or should have,” but still reached the correct outcome.

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Former Australian batter Mark Waugh noted that Jamie Smith’s initial reaction may have influenced the final call. “I think Smith gave it away there… I don't think the umpire would have been convinced that he'd hit that if he'd stayed there,” Waugh said, adding that the lengthy decision time suggested doubt. “I think that's the longest DRS decision I think I've seen,” he remarked, comparing it to past controversies such as those seen in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.