West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has stirred up a major controversy in international cricket, questioning the credibility of the third umpire after a series of contentious decisions in the first Test match against Australia in Bridgetown, Barbados. Sammy accused third umpire Adrian Holdstock of making dubious calls that he believes unfairly hurt West Indies and changed the course of the match.
The Controversial Moments That Raised Eyebrows
1. Travis Head’s Edge Ignored
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In Australia’s first innings, Travis Head edged a delivery from Shamar Joseph that was clearly shown on UltraEdge.
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Wicketkeeper Shai Hope caught it, albeit slightly uncertainly.
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Despite the edge and soft signals suggesting a catch, the third umpire declared Head not out, citing “lack of conclusive evidence”.
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Sammy and fans were furious, especially after replays suggested the opposite.
2. Roston Chase’s LBW Drama
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First, Chase survived a review when the third umpire ruled an inside edge saved him.
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Later, in the 50th over, Chase was given out LBW despite a visible spike on UltraEdge.
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Third umpire Holdstock argued there was daylight between bat and ball, but commentators like Ian Bishop disagreed, saying it looked like the ball hit the bat first.
3. Shai Hope’s Controversial Dismissal
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Hope was declared out after being caught by Alex Carey.
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However, replays showed the ball possibly touching the ground as Carey landed.
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Once again, the third umpire gave the benefit of the doubt to Australia, sparking outrage among West Indies supporters.
Darren Sammy’s Explosive Reaction
Speaking after play, a visibly upset Sammy said:
"You don’t want to be thinking about umpiring, but when multiple decisions go one way, it becomes hard to ignore. These calls can change the entire outcome of the match."
Sammy stopped short of directly calling it cheating, but his remarks clearly indicated a lack of trust in the fairness of third umpire decisions.
Current Match Situation
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Australia: 180 (1st innings), 92/4 (2nd innings)
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West Indies: 190 (1st innings)
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Australia leads by 82 runs at stumps on Day 2.
What’s at Stake?
With the match hanging in the balance, these umpiring controversies could cast a shadow over the result. Sammy’s remarks may also prompt the ICC to review DRS protocols and umpire accountability, especially in high-stakes Test matches.
Fan Reactions
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Social media exploded with #DRSfail and #JusticeForWindies, with many fans agreeing with Sammy and calling for neutral oversight of third umpire reviews.
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Others defended the third umpire, saying decisions were within the gray area of interpretation.
