West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has called for greater consistency and clarity in umpiring decisions following a series of controversial moments during the ongoing Test match between West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval.
Sammy, speaking at a post-day press conference on Day Two, expressed his frustration at several decisions that he believed unfairly disadvantaged his side — particularly involving the dismissals of West Indian batters Shai Hope (48) and Roston Chase (44) after lunch. The pair had combined for a 67-run partnership and looked set to give the hosts a decent lead before being dismissed. West Indies were eventually bowled out for 190 runs, giving them a ten-run lead.
“We’re just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is. I mean, we only hope for consistency. That’s all we could ask for.”
Sammy highlighted his concerns, suggesting that questionable calls going against his side had become a pattern dating back to West Indies’ white-ball tour of England last month.
“When there’s doubt in something, just be consistent across the board,” he said. “God is so good, He gives you two opportunities to make two decisions — two caught-behinds, two LBWs. It seems like we come up on the sharper end of the stick all the time,” Sammy said, referencing Shai Hope’s phantom catch off a Travis Head edge while he was set on 53 runs. The Australian left-hander was dismissed for 59.
When pressed on the controversial dismissal of Chase, Sammy said: “In our opinion, we saw the ball deviated onto the pad… Maybe because the umpire gave it out, there was not enough doubt to overturn it. So I’m like you — I’m just trying to understand the decision and the process in getting to the decision.”
Despite the tension, Sammy was quick to remind the media that his side remained in a strong position.
“Despite all the things that have gone against us, we’re still in a position to win a Test match. That’s what we should focus on — the things that we can control,” he noted.
He praised the preparation of fast bowler Shamar Joseph, commending the support staff for managing his workload and readying him for the rigours of Test cricket.
“To see him running and look like he’s at his best, you know, that was really good,” Sammy said. “I’m not surprised about the results.” Joseph took 4-46 in the first innings in tandem with Jayden Seales’ 5-60 to reduce the visitors to 180 runs — their lowest first-innings score in the Caribbean after electing to bat first. His figures of 1-15 from ten overs in the second innings have helped to hold Australia to 92-4, with a lead of 82. The 25-year-old could have had even better match figures if the five catches dropped off his bowling in this match had been taken — something which has irked Sammy.
“I’m very involved in the slip catching. Again, it’s an attitude. The same way you practise your batting, your bowling, fielding and catching becomes equally important,” Sammy stressed. “We cannot be doing those things. Good teams will make you pay.”
He also weighed in on the ongoing debate about four-day Tests, declining to take a firm position but defending the quality of the pitch at Kensington Oval.
“We’re so used to the flat tracks that any time the wicket now gives a little assistance to the bowlers, we start saying it’s bad batting and a bad pitch,” he said. “I thought Kensington gave us exactly what we asked for… It’s a great Test match cricket pitch.”
As the contest heads into a decisive phase, Sammy urged his players to remain focused and finish the match strongly despite the external distractions.
“We’ve got to limit them as much as possible,” he concluded. “We all know chasing on the last day could be hard.” (JC)
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