The second day of the Test match between West Indies and Australia in Barbados turned out to be quite eventful and not just because of the cricket.
The focus shifted to the third umpire, Adrian Holdstock, after several of his decisions using the DRS (Decision Review System) left fans and experts questioning the calls.
Here’s a breakdown of the moments that created the most buzz:
Travis Head’s Controversial Not-Out Call
During Australia’s first innings, fast bowler Shamar Joseph appealed for a catch behind the stumps against Travis Head. UltraEdge showed a faint spike, indicating a slight edge off the bat.The real debate was whether the ball had bounced before reaching the wicketkeeper Shai Hope.
Travis Head got extremely lucky there - was out in my opinion
— The Sports Feed (@thesports_feed) June 25, 2025
Is this OUT or Not-Out 🫣🫣🫣 #WIvsAUS #AUSvsWI #WIvAUS #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/AR5mTwzMkI
Replays were not 100% clear, but many felt the ball had carried cleanly. However, the third umpire said the evidence wasn’t enough to overturn the on-field decision and gave it not out a call that led to mixed reactions.
Two Big Reviews for Roston Chase
West Indies batter Roston Chase was involved in two key review moments:
First Review: A delivery from Josh Hazlewood hit Chase's pad and rolled to fine leg. Australia went for a review after their LBW appeal was turned down by the on-field umpire.
However, the third umpire noticed a clear inside edge on the replay, so the original decision from the on-field umpire remained unchanged. Australia lost the review.
Second Review: Chase was later given out LBW by the on-field umpire off Pat Cummins. He took the review, thinking he had edged the ball.
UltraEdge showed a slight spike, but the third umpire felt it wasn’t a clear bat contact. The ball was shown to hit the top of the middle stump and the decision stayed out. This left many fans confused.
Shai Hope’s Catch Stirs Discussion
Later, Shai Hope was caught by Alex Carey off a delivery from Beau Webster. Carey dived to his left and took a low catch, but the replays showed the ball may have slightly touched the ground as he landed.
Despite the uncertainty, the third umpire ruled it a clean catch. Hope didn’t wait and walked off straight away, but fans on social media debated whether it was a fair call.
Green Gets Lucky With LBW Call
In Australia’s second innings, Cameron Green was struck on the pads by Justin Greaves and West Indies went for an LBW review. Replays showed the ball hit the pad first, but there was a question of whether the bat was involved. The third umpire thought the bat made contact and gave it not out another call that West Indies weren’t happy with.
Third Umpire in the Spotlight
With several tight decisions during the match, third umpire Adrian Holdstock quickly found himself in the spotlight. While some decisions were accepted without much noise, others led to confusion and debate. Fans and commentators alike feel these moments could have a big impact on the outcome of the match.