West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has lost 15% of his match fee and picked up one demerit point after publicly questioning the work of television umpire Adrian Holdstock during the first Test against Australia in Barbados.
The tension surfaced late on day two, when two tight calls went the tourists’ way. Roston Chase was given lbw to Pat Cummins despite what looked a faint inside edge, and Shai Hope fell to a sharp Alex Carey catch after Ultra-Edge indicated a nick. The previous evening Holdstock had ruled that a low chance offered by Travis Head to Hope had bounced first.
Speaking not long after play, Sammy pulled few punches. “You don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you’re wondering about certain umpires,” he said. “Is there something against this team? But when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question.”
Those comments breached Article 2.7 of the ICC code of conduct – public criticism of a match official – a Level 1 offence carrying a potential reprimand up to a 50% fine. Match referee Javagal Srinath proposed the 15% sanction and one demerit point; Sammy admitted the charge so no formal hearing was required.
A brief ICC statement underlined the standard position: officials “must be able to carry out their duties without undue public pressure.” Nothing was said about Chase, who used the post-match media conference to voice similar frustrations, so any action on that front remains to be seen.
Holdstock is scheduled to stand on-field in the second and third Tests in Grenada and Jamaica. Nitin Menon and Richard Kettleborough will split television duties. The ICC seldom changes appointments once confirmed, but, privately, West Indies administrators are understood to have asked for “clarity” on recent decisions.
For Sammy the episode is his first disciplinary mark in the last two years, hardly a rap sheet, yet a reminder that coaches run a thin line when emotions spill over. Friends of the former all-rounder say he feels a responsibility to protect a young side finding its feet in the World Test Championship cycle.
The cricket moves on quickly – Cummins’ men resume with a lead of 175 and eight wickets in hand – but the subplot around umpiring will linger. Ultimately, both teams must adapt. As one seasoned Caribbean observer put it: “You can’t DRS your way out of poor batting, and you can’t blame technology for dropped chances.” That might be a timely note for everyone in Barbados this week.
