Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal during the fifth day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, asserting that the third umpire made the correct decision. The dismissal became a major talking point, with several former Indian cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar, criticizing the decision. However, Taylor believes the criticism is unwarranted.

The Incident
Jaiswal, playing a crucial role in India’s bid to save the Test, was adjudged out after a review overturned the on-field decision by umpire Joel Wilson. Attempting to hook a bouncer from Pat Cummins, Jaiswal edged the ball to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. While the on-field umpire initially declared him not out, Australia’s review led to the third umpire using visual evidence to overturn the decision.
Despite Snicko technology failing to detect a spike, the third umpire ruled in favor of the fielding side, citing a visible deviation of the ball as evidence. This decision led to an uproar among Indian fans and former cricketers, with BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla also voicing displeasure.
Taylor: “No Controversy Here”
Mark Taylor dismissed the claims of controversy, stating that the third umpire made the right call. “People trying to find controversy here are simply looking for it. The replays clearly showed a deviation, which was enough to make the decision,” Taylor said in an interview with Nine’s Today.
He also emphasized the limitations of Snicko and other technology used in cricket. “Snicko and similar tools are not 100% accurate. Especially when a batter edges the ball far from the stump mic, the sound may not be captured. In this case, the visual evidence was conclusive,” Taylor added.
No Fault in Australia’s Victory
Taylor was firm in stating that Jaiswal’s dismissal did not overshadow Australia’s performance. “Australia earned their win by taking 10 legitimate wickets. The team played exceptionally well, and there’s no need to create unnecessary controversy,” he remarked.
Snicko’s Limitations Explained
Warren Brennan, creator of Snicko, also weighed in, clarifying why the technology did not detect any spike during Jaiswal’s dismissal. “This was one of those instances where there wasn’t any significant noise for Snicko to pick up. Even the audio director confirmed there was no sound. Hot Spot might have been able to resolve it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t available,” Brennan explained to News Corp.
Conclusion
While Jaiswal’s dismissal sparked debate, Mark Taylor and experts have defended the decision, emphasizing the reliability of visual evidence over technological tools like Snicko. Australia’s victory, powered by their disciplined bowling, remains a testament to their dominance in the match.