What you missed overnight, Day 2: Catch controversy rocks Australia-West Indies first Test

After a day of DRS drama and catch controversies, West Indies coach Darren Sammy has questioned the integrity of the third umpire as a series of close calls went against his team.

West Indies coach Daren Sammy has questioned the integrity of umpire Adrian Holdstock after a series of decision review system calls went against the home side on day two of the first Test.

The series opener is in the balance after Australia’s top order again flopped to leave the tourists 4-92 in their second innings, an overall lead of 82 on a Kensington Oval pitch that has favoured the bowlers.

For the second straight day, South African Holdstock - the designated third umpire for this match who is also scheduled to have on-field duties for the second and third Tests of this series - made several controversial calls.

DAY TWO REPORT: Konstas’ fresh failure in Australia’s batting disaster

The Windies, who haven’t won a home Test against Australia for 22 years, were left particularly aggrieved by Holdstock upholding on-field decisions against their captain Roston Chase and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope, whose 44 and 48 respectively were the hosts’ top two scores of their first innings 190.

Chase was deemed lbw to Pat Cummins but the Windies felt that their skipper had clearly hit the ball before it cannoned into the batter’s pad, and that UltraEdge spikes had suggested as such.

Alex Carey's contentious catch

Hope’s dismissal came when Alex Carey claimed a stunning diving low catch off the bowling of Beau Webster, which the Windies argued had not been fully controlled in the Aussie wicketkeeper’s glove before the ball touched the grass.

There have been a string of other contentious third umpire calls during the match, with Australian quick Mitchell Starc querying whether the UltraEdge technology had been properly synchronised, hinting that the images did not match the sound spikes.

But that was only mild criticism compared to the comments made by Sammy moments later.

Australia's Mitchell Starc had his own queries about the decision review technology. Picture: Getty

Sammy, the former Windies captain, said he had raised his concerns with match referee Javagal Srinath of India. Sammy added that his concerns around Holdstock had emanated from the Windies’ recent white-ball series against England in which Holdstock had denied his side the crucial wicket of trump card Joe Root at Cardiff.

“I just had a chat with the match referee, just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is,” Sammy said.

“I mean, we only hope for consistency. That’s all we could ask for. Whether it’s when there’s doubt in something, just be consistent across the board, you know.

“I have noticed, you know, especially with this particular umpire it’s been something that’s for me, it started in England. It’s frustrating, you know.

“It seems like we come up on the sharp end of the stick all the time. So I just ask for consistency in the decision making.”

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy was fuming after play. Picture: Getty

Sammy said he was hopeful Srinath would provide some clarity.

“You don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you wondering about certain umpires, like ‘is there something against this team?’ But when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question,” Sammy said.

“I know he’s there for the series. You don’t want to go in a Test match having that doubt. So I want to have that conversation as to the process as to how things happen, 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, and that’s not what our team is about. So we’re just looking for some clarity as to the decisions.”

Beau Webster celebrates the controversial dismissal of West Indies' Shai Hope. Picture: AP

Starc conceded that his side had benefitted from the umpiring.

“There’s been some interesting ones. Obviously, a couple more have gone against the West Indies than us,” Starc said.

“As players, you can only ask a question. We don’t use the technology to make that decision. We can ask a question. It sort of felt like or looked like that the Snicko and the images were out of sync to some capacity. So you might have to ask the umpires about how that’s all perceived from their end.”

WHAT YOU MISSED: CATCH CONTROVERSY, DRS DRAMA ROCK TEST

While you were sleeping, Australia knocked over the West Indies for 190 – thanks in part to some generous decisions from the third umpire that caught the ire of the home side.

Read on for the moments you missed.

PAD TASTE

Bat or pad first? That was the question, and third umpire Adrian Holdstock answered with the former, meaning West Indies captain Roston Chase survived a close shave on one after an lbw appeal from Josh Hazlewood that had initially turned down.

The Aussies went upstairs and thought they had their man when a spike on Ultraedge appeared before the ball reached the bat.

However Holdstock interpreted it differently, allowing Chase to continue.

A similar call went Australia’s way later in the day when Chase fell for 44 to Pat Cummins, with Holdstock having a long think about it again.

Given out by third umpire. https://t.co/XpylfGNgAmpic.twitter.com/aZHNfp0lXb

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 26, 2025

JUST WON’T STICK

The Windies put down four catches on day one, and it was Australia’s turn to fumble in the field on day two. Sam Konstas spilled a chance at short leg with Chase on four from Pat Cummins’ bowling, while Brandon King had a reprieve on 26 when Alex Carey spilled a regulation catch off Hazlewood which Usman Khawaja couldn’t mop up. Thankfully for the Australian wicketkeeper there was no damage done, with Hazlewood bowling the debutant less than two overs later without another run being added.

GRASSY ROLE

Carey, donning a black armband for a personal bereavement, was involved in a controversy when he claimed a diving one-handed catch to remove Shai Hope two runs shy of a half-century on return after a terrific bit of seam movement from Beau Webster. While replays appeared to show the ball touching the grass after Carey had taken it in his glove, this umpire Holdstock decided that the wicketkeeper was in control of the catch, sending Hope on his way. Windies coach Daren Sammy looked bewildered by the call.

LYON TAMED

Having been nullified by South Africa at Lord’s, Nathan Lyon was attacked by Chase and Hope in their 67-run stand to the extent that he was barely used thereafter by Cummins. Lyon ended up bowling just 5.2 overs for the innings, taking the final wicket when Jayden Seales was well caught in the deep by Webster. It was the first wicket of the match to fall to spin.

Originally published as What you missed overnight, Day 2: Catch controversy rocks Australia-West Indies first Test