The first Test between West Indies and Australia has been mired in umpiring controversy, with several howlers across two days.
TV umpire Adrian Holdstock has been under the scanner in Barbados after as many as five contentious decisions have been made over the first two days of the Test. The hosts have mainly been at the receiving end, with four going against them, leading to head coach Darren Sammy venting his frustration in the press conference. According to ESPNCricinfo, he also spoke to the match referee Javagal Srinath after the second day’s play to express his concerns over the inconsistent umpiring standards.
Here are all the third-umpiring decisions in the game.
Over 3.4: Shamar Joseph to Sam Konstas, 1st innings
Joseph struck Konstas on the pads with a good length ball that seamed in sharply, and although the initial appeal was turned down, West Indies reviewed. UltraEdge confirmed no bat was involved, and ball-tracking showed the delivery crashing into the top of the leg stump, and Konstas departed for five.
Over 9.4: Shamar Joseph to Cameron Green, 1st innings
Joseph dismissed Green for three with a fuller ball outside off that straightened, drawing an edge to second slip. Justin Greaves took a low catch, confirmed clean by the third umpire.
Over 45.2: Shamar Joseph to Travis Head, 1st innings
On the opening day in Barbados, Travis Head survived a controversial catch appeal, much to the frustration of Joseph. The batter attempted a forceful shot against a length ball outside off stump, only to get a faint edge through to the wicketkeeper, Shai Hope.
While UltraEdge confirmed a clear nick, the on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, Adrian Holdstock, to check whether the ball had carried cleanly to Hope. Initial replays suggested the ball might have bounced just before reaching the keeper’s gloves. Hope himself appeared uncertain of whether he had caught it cleanly.
Despite evidence that seemed to support a legitimate catch, Holdstock ruled that there was no conclusive proof the ball had carried, and Head, batting on 53 at the time, was given not out. He made six more runs.
Over 20.6: Josh Hazlewood to Roston Chase, 2nd innings
On the second day in Barbados, Roston Chase survived an lbw review after a tight call involving a possible inside edge against Josh Hazlewood. The ball nipped back sharply as Chase pressed forward, and there was a clear deflection. The Australians believed it came off the pad and opted for a review.
UltraEdge showed a spike when the ball brushed against the pad, but with bat and pad extremely close together, Holdstock ruled that the ball had hit the bat first, and the on-field decision of not out stood.
The Australians, particularly Hazlewood, looked unconvinced, and a brief exchange followed between the players and on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough. Chase, batting on one, was in the middle of another contentious call a few overs later.
Over 49.2: Pat Cummins to Roston Chase, 2nd innings
This time, Chase was not as fortunate and was dismissed lbw by Pat Cummins off a controversial call. The back of a length delivery angled in from outside off, nipped in sharply and stayed low, catching Chase on the back pad as he looked to defend from the crease.
Kettleborough had no hesitation in giving the decision out on the field, which Chase reviewed immediately. A small spike appeared on UltraEdge as the ball passed close to the bat, and there was also a slight deviation in the ball's path. However, Holdstock determined that despite a spike, there was a visible gap between bat and ball. Chase was dismissed for 44 after facing 108 deliveries.
Over 49.6: Pat Cummins to Justin Greaves, 2nd innings
Australia burned a review after Cummins and Alex Carey believed Justin Greaves had gloved a leg-side delivery. The ball, angled down leg, brushed the thigh pad as Greaves tried to tuck it away. UltraEdge confirmed no contact with the bat or gloves, and the review was unsuccessful.
Over 57.3: Beau Webster to Shai Hope, 2nd innings
Shai Hope’s dismissal sparked further debate after a one-handed catch from Alex Carey was upheld by the third umpire. Attempting to defend a full delivery from the crease, the ball took a thick inside edge and flew past leg stump, where Carey dived low to his left and claimed a brilliant reflex catch.
The on-field umpires sent the decision upstairs to confirm whether the catch had been taken cleanly. Slow-motion replays suggested that part of the ball may have brushed the turf, raising immediate comparisons with the previous day’s not-out verdict involving Head.
On this occasion, though, Holdstock concluded that Carey’s fingers were under the ball, and Hope was given out on 48.
Over 8.4: Alzarri Joseph to Usman Khawaja, 3rd innings
Alzarri Joseph dismissed Usman Khawaja lbw on 15 with a back-of-a-length delivery that seamed in sharply, striking him on the back leg. Khawaja reviewed, hoping for height to save him, but UltraEdge showed no bat and ball-tracking returned umpire’s call.
Over 19.6: Jayden Seales to Cameron Green, 3rd innings
Jayden Seales struck Cameron Green on the pads with a sharp in-seamer, prompting a successful review from the batter after being given out lbw. UltraEdge confirmed no bat, but ball-tracking showed the delivery going over the stumps.
Over 24.1: Justin Greaves to Cameron Green, 3rd innings
West Indies lost a review late on day two after a close lbw appeal against Cameron Green was turned down by the on-field umpire. The delivery from Justin Greaves pitched on a length and jagged back sharply, striking Green on the front pad. After a loud appeal was denied, the West Indies opted to review.
Replays suggested the ball had slightly struck the front pad first, and ball-tracking showed it would have gone on to hit the stumps. UltraEdge detected a spike, seemingly from the ball hitting the back pad, but Holdstock judged that the spike was the result of the bat hitting the back pad, rather than the ball taking an edge. Green was given not out, but it did not cost the hosts much as he only added a run more to his tally.
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