'So many questionable calls' - Roston Chase criticises umpires after Barbados defeat

West Indies captain Roston Chase has doubled down on his criticism of the umpiring decisions during the first Test against Australia and stated that several key calls went against his side, which had a significant impact on the outcome of the match.

The head coach Daren Sammy also voiced his concerns, particularly regarding the performance of TV umpire Adrian Holdstock. Among the moments were Chase’s LBW dismissal, where there appeared to be a possible inside edge, and Shai Hope’s caught behind dismissal by Alex Carey, which the West Indies camp believed was questionable. Additionally, the team felt a caught-behind decision against Travis Head on the opening day should have been given out.

"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. I mean, as a player, you're out there, you're giving your all, you're fighting. And then nothing is going your way,” Chase said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"It could be heartbreaking. You see what set batters can do on the wicket. The wicket is one where once you get in, you can get runs, but the hardest part is to get in. Me and Shai Hope were going well and then, obviously, we had some questionable calls. That really set us back in terms of creating a big lead on the total that Australia set. It's clear to see that 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," he added.

Chase called for greater accountability for umpires over poor decisions, especially as the ICC is currently reviewing the performance of international umpires and considering removals from the Elite Panel based on merit.

"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,” Chase said.

"You're talking about guys' careers. One bad decision could make or break a guy's career. I just think that it should be an even playground in terms of when players step out of line, they're penalised. I think that there should be some penalty put in place when you have blatant decisions going against you. I think it was a big factor in the game because me and Hope were going well. We even had a catch that went against us in the first innings when we were bowling. So, you never know what the score could have been, but I don't want to harp on it," he added.

On the other hand, Australian skipper Pat Cummins stated that his team had no complaints regarding the umpiring decisions during the match.

"We appeal [and] if we think it's close, use DRS and leave the rest up to the umpires. In some games, there's a lot of 50-50 calls. Today we missed a few 50-50 calls that went against us. I think it's cricket. I think it all balances itself out," Cummins said.

Catching is more of a belief: Chase

The home team also struggled in the field, dropping seven catches throughout the match. The costliest miss came early on the third day when Justin Greaves dropped Head at second slip on 21, with Australia’s lead at 97 at the time.

"There's nothing I can say to justify the guys dropping the catches. We've been working hard on the slip catches. Every day, we try to take at least 30 to 40 catches. But practice and in the game is a big difference. I just think it's more a belief. From the time one goes down, I think guys tend to get a bit nervous and second guess their catching ability, and sometimes it can throw you off. But once you put one down, you have to look forward to taking the next one," Chase said.