Daren Sammy Critiques Umpiring Decisions in Test Against Australia
Concerns Raised by West Indies Coach
Daren Sammy, the head coach of the West Indies cricket team, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of TV umpire Adrian Holdstock during the first Test match against Australia held in Barbados. This follows a series of controversial review decisions that occurred on the second day of play, as reported by a sports news outlet.
After the day's play, Sammy sought clarification from match referee Javagal Srinath regarding several decisions that did not favor the West Indies. He also highlighted issues with Holdstock's officiating during a recent ODI series in England, where the umpire was involved in two games as TV umpire and officiated another match on the field.
Frustration Over DRS Decisions
The West Indies team faced significant frustration due to two pivotal moments on the second day. The first incident involved captain Roston Chase, who was given out lbw to Pat Cummins, despite the team's belief that there was clear evidence of an inside edge. The second contentious decision was Shai Hope's dismissal, caught behind by Alex Carey off Beau Webster, which was upheld after a review.
"We are just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is," Sammy stated, emphasizing the need for consistency in decision-making.
"We only hope for consistency. That's all we could ask for. When there is doubt in something, just be consistent across the board," he added.
Questioning Umpire's Decisions
Sammy raised concerns about Holdstock's decisions, stating, "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."
He further noted, "I want to have that conversation as to the process... so we could be all clear. Because, at the end of the day, you don't want to be going into a Test match not trusting the umpires."
When asked if the West Indies would file a formal complaint, Sammy responded, "You'll have to wait and see for that." He commented on Chase's dismissal, which interrupted a 67-run partnership with Hope, saying, "In our opinion, we saw the ball deviate onto the pad."
Inconsistent DRS Calls
While Sammy did not directly contest Hope's dismissal, he referenced a similar incident from the previous day when a catch taken by Hope to dismiss Travis Head was ruled not out.
"I'm just saying, judge what you see," he remarked, adding, "If you see the same thing and one is not out, there is even more doubt on the other one than you give it out. Again, I don't know what he's seen but from the images that we've seen, the decisions are not fair enough for both teams. We're all humans. Mistakes will be made. I just want fairness," he concluded.
Australia's Perspective on DRS
Australia also experienced their share of dissatisfaction. In the first over of Day 2, they reviewed an lbw decision against Chase, believing the ball had hit the pad first. Although initial replays seemed to support their claim, Holdstock ruled there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc later questioned whether the visuals and audio in the replays were properly synchronized.
"There's been some interesting ones," Starc commented, noting that while a couple of decisions went against the West Indies, one against Chase appeared to have a gap between the bat and the ball, costing them runs.
Sammy's Advice to Players
Being aware of the protocols regarding criticism of officials, Sammy instructed his players to refrain from publicly commenting on the decisions made during the match.
"We know the rules. We know fines going all across the board," he stated. He added, "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 against ourselves, some of these decisions, and we're still in a position to win."