Daijiworld Media Network- Bridgetown

Bridgetown, Jun 27: Tempers flared and questions mounted in Bridgetown as West Indies head coach Daren Sammy voiced strong concerns over third umpire Adrian Holdstock’s officiating during the first Test against Australia. Following a string of contentious decisions on Day 2, Sammy met with match referee Javagal Srinath to seek clarity on what he described as a pattern of inconsistency that left the Caribbean side disillusioned.

Sammy's frustration stemmed from two major moments — the dismissal of skipper Roston Chase via lbw despite suggestions of an inside edge, and Shai Hope’s caught-behind decision off Beau Webster, deemed clean after review. The former West Indies captain questioned the review protocol and indicated that Holdstock, also involved in the team’s recent ODI tour of England, had drawn their ire more than once.

“We are just trying to understand the process,” Sammy told ESPNcricinfo, maintaining that consistency in decision-making was all he sought. “When there’s doubt, just be consistent across the board.”

He further raised concerns that the repeated nature of such decisions — many going against the West Indies — risked eroding trust in the officiating. “You don’t want to be playing a Test match doubting the umpire,” he stated, adding that it wasn’t about questioning integrity but seeking fairness.

On Chase’s dismissal, Sammy insisted replays clearly showed deviation off the bat before the ball struck the pad. As for Hope’s dismissal, he drew comparisons with a non-catch given against Australia on Day 1, where Hope’s effort to dismiss Travis Head was ruled not to have carried.

“Judge what you see,” Sammy said. “If one is not out with more clarity, how is another out with more doubt?”

While he stopped short of confirming whether a formal complaint would be lodged, the tone was unmistakable: the West Indies camp felt shortchanged and were now demanding transparency.

Interestingly, even Australia had grievances. In the very first over of Day 2, they lost an lbw review against Chase, which they felt should’ve been overturned. Mitchell Starc hinted at a possible technological glitch, claiming the Snicko and visual replays appeared out of sync.

“There’s been some interesting ones,” Starc said, noting that while the bulk of decisions went against the Windies, Australia weren’t spared either. “It sort of looked like the audio and the images didn’t match up.”

Despite the on-field drama, Sammy maintained his composure, instructing his players not to publicly comment on umpiring, citing ICC protocols. “We know the rules and the fines,” he said, acknowledging that his team had also been culpable — dropping crucial catches that could have turned the tide.

“But despite the officiating and our own errors, we’re still in a position to win. That speaks volumes,” he concluded, leaving the cricketing world watching with bated breath as the series intensifies — not just on the pitch, but in the umpire’s box too.