West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has raised concerns over the consistency and reliability of third umpire decisions during the ongoing Test match against Australia in Barbados, calling for greater transparency following a series of controversial reviews on Day 2.
Sammy reportedly held discussions with match referee Javagal Srinath after play on Thursday, seeking clarity on decisions that he believes adversely affected his side. His concerns centered on TV umpire Adrian Holdstock, whose officiating had also drawn criticism during the recent ODI series between West Indies and England.
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Two moments in particular drew frustration from the West Indies camp. Captain Roston Chase was given out lbw to Pat Cummins after lunch on Day 2, despite what the team believed was clear deviation from an inside edge. Later, Shai Hope was ruled caught behind off Beau Webster in a decision upheld by Holdstock after review, though replays triggered debate.
Sammy, while choosing his words carefully, said his team was merely asking for fairness and clarity. “We are just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is. We only hope for consistency—that’s all we could ask for,” he told reporters.
The former captain also referenced a similar situation involving Hope earlier in the match. On Day 1, the West Indies wicketkeeper appeared to take a low catch to dismiss Travis Head, but the third umpire ruled it not out. “If you see the same thing and one is not out, there is even more doubt when the other is given out. From the images that we’ve seen, the decisions are not fair enough for both teams,” he said.
Sammy emphasized that the issue wasn’t limited to one decision but a pattern that stretched back to the England series. “It’s frustrating. I just ask for consistency in the decision-making,” he said. “You don’t want to go into a Test match having doubt. That’s not what our team is about. We just want clarity.”
Australia, too, expressed some unease with the review process. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc pointed to a failed lbw review against Chase early on Day 2 that seemed promising based on replays, but was not overturned. Starc questioned whether the Snickometer visuals and audio were properly synced. “It sort of felt like the Snicko and the images were out of sync to some capacity,” he remarked. “Obviously, a couple more have gone against the West Indies than us.”
While Sammy stopped short of confirming whether the West Indies would file a formal complaint, he said he had advised his players not to comment publicly on the officiating to avoid sanctions. “We know the rules. We know fines go all across the board,” he said. “I don’t want them 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 ourselves—and we’re still in a position to win.”
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