After the first Test of the three-match series against Australia, at Bridgetown, new West Indies captain Roston Chase was vocal in his criticism of the umpiring.
The West Indies played fantastic cricket to secure a 10-run first-innings lead at the Kensington Oval. However, after Australia set a target of 301, the hosts collapsed for 141 against Josh Hazlewood (5-43).
1st Test, West Indies vs Australia
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TV umpire Adrian Holdstock was at the centre of discussion over the course of the Test match. When Travis Head edged a ball in the first innings, Holdstock watched the replays and concluded that the ball might have bounced just before they reached the big gloves of Shai Hope.
When it was the West Indies’ turn to bat, Hope edged a ball to Alex Carey. Replays suggested that the ball might have touched the grass en route, but Holdstock ruled Hope out. Chase himself was ruled LBW off Pat Cummins when the audio and video seemed out of sync, with inconsistent spikes throughout. “I disagree with this decision,” said Ian Bishop. “You can see a deflection, a change of direction of the ball as it approaches the bat.”
In the third innings, Cameron Green was ruled not out leg-before off Justin Greaves. On replays, it seemed that the ball might have brushed the front pad en route to the back pad, which the bat and the ball hit at the same time. However, Holdstock ruled Green not out, presumably ignoring the contact with the front pad.
Daren Sammy: Don't want to wonder about certain umpires
Holdstock’s decisions did not make him popular with West Indies coach Daren Sammy: “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.
“I have noticed, especially with this particular umpire [Holdstock], it’s something that for me started in England.” It is not clear which tour Sammy meant (2024 or 2025), but Holdstock’s last six international matches in England all involved the West Indies.
Roston Chase: One bad decision could make or break a guy's career
At the post-match press conference, Chase voiced his criticism of Holdstock. “On the officiating: yeah, it’s frustrating because as players when we mess up, when we get out of line, we are penalised harshly. Sometimes we’re even banned. It might be in terms of a monetary fine or something. But the officials? Nothing ever happens to them. They just have a wrong decision or questionable decision and life just goes on.
“You’re talking about guys’ careers. One bad decision could make or break a guy’s career. So I just think that it should be an even playing ground ... I think that there should be some penalty put in place when you have blatant decisions going against you.
“I think it [the umpiring] was a big factor in the game. Because as I said, you see what batters can do when they get in. Me and Hope were going well and then we just had some calls that went against us. We even had a catch that went against us in the first innings when we were bowling, so you never know what the score could have been. But I don’t want to harp on it.”
