Barbados blow-up: West Indies coach fined after slamming umpiring in Test defeat against Australia

2 months ago 22

Bridgetown: West Indies coach and former international cricketer Daren Sammy has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council after slamming the performance of match officials during his side’s loss to Australia in the opening Test.

Speaking after day two, Sammy couldn’t hide his displeasure after what he believed to be a number of incorrect decisions made by third umpire Adrian Holdstock across the Test regarding lbws and catches.

Cameron Green survived an lbw referral that Sammy believed hit the pad when Holdstock adjudicated it had hit bat first.

An Alex Carey catch to remove Shai Hope was also a contentious decision, particularly given the West Indies believed Hope had caught Head in similar circumstances a day earlier. The Australian was given not out.

Sammy also questioned the accuracy of the technology being used in a match Australia went on to win by 159 runs.

“I just had a chat with the match referee (former Indian international Javagal Srinath) … just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is. We only hope for consistency,” Sammy said after play on day two.

“I have noticed especially with this particular umpire (TV umpire Adrian Holdstock). It has been something that started in England. It’s frustrating. It seems like we come up on the sharp end of the stick all the time.

“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. It’s 2025 and you’re supposed to have more correct decisions.”

The ICC announced on Saturday that Sammy had breached Article 2.7 of the code, which related to “public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an International match or any player, player support personnel match official or team participating in any international match.”

He accepted the sanction and received one demerit point, his first offence in a 24-month period.

It comes as West Indies captain Roston Chase also criticised the performance of the match officials in his post-play press conference on Friday.

West Indies’ Shai Hope bats against Australia on day two of the first cricket Test match at Kensington Stadium in Bridgetown.

“This game is a frustrating one for me and for the team because we bowled out Australia for a relatively low score. We were very happy with that but then there were so many questionable calls in the game and none of them went our way,” Chase told reporters.

“I mean, as a player, you’re out there, you’re giving your all, you’re fighting and then nothing is going your way.

“It’s clear to see anyone would feel bad or feel hurt about those decisions. You’re out there playing to win, giving it your all and it seems like everyone is against you. It’s frustrating because as players, when we mess up, when we get out of line, we’re penalised harshly.

“But the officials, nothing ever happens to them. They just have a wrong decision or questionable decision and life just goes on.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins was asked after his side’s win whether he’d had any conversations with the match referee around umpiring standards.

“No, of course not,” Cummins said. “We appeal and if we think it’s close, we use DRS and leave the rest up to the umpires. There were a lot of 50-50 calls. There was some that went against us. That’s cricket. I think it all balances itself out.”

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