West Indies head coach Daren Sammy asked for “consistency” after a series of tight television decisions went against his side on day two of the first Test against Australia in Barbados.
The chief talking points came in the afternoon session. Pat Cummins trapped Roston Chase lbw for 40, a verdict upheld on review even though West Indies believed the ball brushed the inside edge. Soon after, Shai Hope inside-edged Beau Webster and wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw himself left to complete a low catch. On-field umpires sent it upstairs and TV umpire Adrian Holdstock confirmed it was clean.
Sammy, who met match referee Javagal Srinath immediately after play, said his players simply wanted to understand how those conclusions were reached.
“We are just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is,” Sammy said. “We only hope for consistency. That’s all we could ask for. When there is doubt in something, just be consistent across the board.”
Sammy added that his unease with Holdstock, the television official for this match, dated back to the recent one-day series in England. “I have noticed, especially with this particular umpire, it’s something that for me started in England. It’s frustrating. I just ask for consistency in the decision-making.”
Pressed on whether he was specifically referring to Holdstock, he replied: “Yeah, look, you don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you’re wondering about certain umpires. Is there something against this team? But when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question. I know he’s here for the series. You don’t want to go in a Test match having that doubt.”
He continued: “So I want to have that conversation as to the process… so we could be all clear. Because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be going into a Test match not trusting the umpires. And that’s not what our team is about. So we’re just looking for some clarity as to the decisions.”
Asked whether West Indies would lodge an official complaint, Sammy said: “You’ll have to wait and see for that.”
The coach accepted his side had contributed to their own problems – three slip chances went down on the opening day – but felt the contentious calls compounded matters. “We know the rules. We know fines going all across the board. I don’t want them [the players] to focus on that. Yes, we’re kind of shooting ourselves in the foot by dropping so many catches, but look at the Test match, [us] against our own selves, some of these decisions, and we’re still in a position to win,” he said.
Explaining Chase’s dismissal, Sammy noted: “In our opinion, we saw the ball deviated onto the pad.” On Hope’s fate, he compared it with an incident 24 hours earlier when Travis Head survived after replays suggested a catch claimed by Hope had bounced. “I’m just saying, judge what you see,” Sammy said. “If you see the same thing and one is not out, there is even more doubt on the other one than you give it out. Again, I don’t know what he’s seen but from the images that we’ve seen, the decisions are not fa…”
Australia closed the day 278 for 6, a lead of 34, with Head unbeaten on 91. The tourists were grateful for Carey’s athleticism and Cummins’ three wickets, yet both camps know the match remains delicately poised.
Former West Indies opener Daren Ganga, speaking on local radio, sympathised with Sammy’s frustration but urged calm. “Umpires have an incredibly tough job and technology is supposed to help. If teams lose faith in that system we have a bigger issue.”
Australian vice-captain Steve Smith kept a diplomatic line: “The protocol is the same for everyone. From our side we trust the officials and get on with the game.”
Cricket West Indies declined to comment on any potential protest but confirmed discussions with match officials were ongoing.
Analysis
The Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced to reduce howlers, yet grey areas remain. The lbw to Chase turned on Ultra-Edge – no spike appeared, but some viewers spotted a faint deviation. Because the on-field call was out, the video evidence had to be “conclusive” to overturn, and Holdstock clearly felt it was not. On Hope’s dismissal, slow-motion footage suggested Carey’s gloves were under the ball, though front-on angles were inconclusive. Again the soft signal – now “out” from both on-field umpires – carried weight.
Sammy’s broader point is psychological. If players doubt the process, their focus slips. For a young West Indies side trying to rebuild, that nagging uncertainty can be costly. But so can dropped catches. Balance, on and off the field, will decide this Test more than any single review.
Day three resumes with Australia seeking quick runs, West Indies eyeing early wickets and, everyone hopes, a quieter shift for the third umpire.
