Roston Chase Slams Umpires: 'Our Careers Are On Line But Nothing Happens To Them'
Last Updated:
In a scathing assessment, WI captain Roston Chase has questioned why umpires are not punished enough for their mistakes when their decisions can decide the players' careers.
West Indies' Test captain Roston Chase didn't mince words over the controversial umpiring decisions during his side's 159-run loss to Australia in the first of the three-Test series in Barbados. Calling it 'heartbreaking', and 'frustrating', he questioned why no action was taken on umpires for their wrong calls, compared to how players are 'penalised harshly' when they make mistakes.
TV umpire Adrian Holdstock was at the centre of the controversy as at least half a dozen of his decisions set social media ablaze. Chase had two of those 50-50 calls, one he survived and the other he didn't. But the most crucial one was Shai Hope getting out for 48 in the second innings after Alex Carey's reflex catch to the left.
The on-field umpires left it to Holdstock to decide. Replays showed that the ball probably brushed the grass while still in Carey's gloves, but the TV umpire gave the dismissal. With both Chase and Hope failing to go past their 50s, West Indies managed a small 10-run lead, which wasn't enough to keep them in the game.
'It's frustrating because as players, when we mess up, when we get out of line, we're penalised harshly," Chase said in the post-match press conference. 'But the officials, nothing ever happens to them. They just have a wrong decision or questionable decision and life just goes on," he added.
'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," he added.
Chase pointed out to Hope's similar catch against Travis Head in the first innings which Holdstock ruled in the batter's favor and remarked that such calls made them feel that 'everyone is against you'.
'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," Chase added. '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," Chase added.
Chase's comments follow his coach Darren Sammy's approach to match referee Javagal Srinath during the Test. Sammy had directly questioned the TV umpire, suggesting it wasn't the first time he felt that the South African had made such decisions in a game involving the West Indies.
Cummins plays down the issue
On the other hand, Australia captain Pat Cummins played down the controversy.
'We appeal (and) if we think it's close, use DRS and leave the rest up to the umpires," Cummins said. '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."
After Sammy's press conference on Friday, Mitchell Starc had also attributed the issue to the technology.
First Published:
June 28, 2025, 11:37 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Aldrich Potgieter, 20, wins Rocket Classic in five-hole playoff
South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter drained an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to secure his first PGA Tour victory by winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday at Detroit Golf Club. HT Image Potgieter outlasted Max Greyserman in an extended playoff that began with three golfers. Chris Kirk's bogey on the second playoff hole cost him a chance and reduced the playoff to two golfers. Potgieter, a big-hitting 20-year-old, began the tournament with a 62 on Thursday and ended up with the biggest prize. He is the youngest South African to win on tour. The trio of Potgieter, Greyserman and Kirk finished 72 holes at 22-under 266. Potgieter and Greyserman both had birdies on the par-5 14th hole the fourth stop in the playoff before Potgieter sank the winning putt. Kirk and Greyserman shot final-round 5-under-par 67s and Potgieter, who was the first- and third-round leader, had 69. Kirk had the best chance on the first playoff hole, but was off the mark on a birdie putt of slightly more than 9 feet. Greyserman missed from 11 feet on the second extra hole before Kirk was eliminated with a three-putt bogey moments later. Greyserman, ranked 48th in the world entering this week, remains without a PGA Tour victory. He has four runner-up finishes. It was a bogey-free round for Greyserman, who missed a birdie putt from just inside 12 feet on the final hole that would have given him the victory. He made birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to rise into a share of the lead. Except for a birdie on No. 17, Kirk posted par on seven of his last eight holes in regulation. It was a crowded leaderboard for the entire day. Michael Thorbjornsen and Jake Knapp shared fourth place at 21 under. Jackson Suber and Colombia's Nico Echavarria tied for sixth at 20 under. By late afternoon, there were 26 golfers within three shots of the lead. After Potgieter and Greyserman made the turn as the final pairing, there were several fewer so close to the top, but still more than a dozen with more than half of those golfers still on the course. Echavarria played the final seven holes in 4 under to match his first-round 66. Harry Higgs and Akshay Bhatia had 65s for the best scores of the last round, finishing at 16 under and 15 under, respectively. Field Level Media This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Today
7 hours ago
- India Today
ZIM vs SA 1st Test: South Africa gain control on Day 2 despite Sean Williams' hundred
A defiant hundred from Sean Williams wasn't enough as South Africa gained control of the first Test against Zimbabwe at stumps on Day 2 on Sunday, June 29. Williams scored 137 off 164 balls to ensure that the hosts avoided the follow-on but the Proteas ended Day 2 on 49 for one with a lead of 216 runs. Zimbabwe scored 251 in their first innings in reply to 418 in the first innings as Wiann Mulder scored 25 and Tony de Zorzi got 22 as the duo remained unbeaten at stumps, with the visitors losing Matthew Breetzke. South Africa had declared and Zimbabwe were struggling at 23 for two when Williams walked in. The hosts' woes were compounded when Brian Bennett had to walk back to the pavilion due to a delayed concussion. advertisementZIM vs SA 1st Test Day 2 Highlights Bennett was hit on the helmet by a vicious bouncer from Kwena Mpahaka and was able to continue on for three more deliveries before walking back to the pavilion. From that point onwards, it was all about Williams, who only found support from captain Craig Ervine. The duo put on 91 runs and they had come together with Zimbabwe 390 runs behind as the South African pace duo of Mpahaka and Codi Yusuf finding rhythm. The debutant got the wickets of Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch to put the visitors on top but Williams decided to counter-attack with some delightful shots. He took a special interest in Maphaka and got a few boundaries in as Zimbabwe ended the first session without any further damage. advertisementMulder and Bosch replaced the new-ball bowlers and Ervine was particularly cautious against them, scoring just nine off 44 balls he faced after lunch. But he and Williams realised they need to get a move on and started to cut and slash before Keshav Maharaj brought himself on. The spinner started to get something off the pitch and almost had Williams stumped on 40. But he got the breakthrough and got the wicket of Ervine to end the menacing partnership. Maharaj created history as he became the first South African spinner to get to 200 wickets. After this point, Williams took the mantle to ensure follow-on was avoided and he decided to take on Maharaj and the rest of the bowlers. While Madhevere got 15, the rest of the batters, including concussion sub Prince Masvaure, failed to make a mark. Williams got to his sixth Test hundred, joint second-highest by a Zimbabwe batter. Mulder picked up four wickets and Yusuf three to clean up the tail and ensure the visitors remained in the driver's seat. - EndsMust Watch
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Keshav Maharaj creates history, becomes first South African spinner to...
Keshav Maharaj. (PIC - X) New Delhi: South Africa's star player Keshav Maharaj achieved a big feat on Sunday on the second day of the first match of the ongoing two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. He became the first South African spinner to take 200 Test wickets. What did Keshav Maharaj do? 35-year-old Maharaj has been playing Test cricket for the last nine years and has gradually become the team's leading spinner in the Test format. Maharaj achieved this feat by dismissing Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine in the 34th over who was stumped by Kyle Verreyne. Which star player Keshav Maharaj surpass? Maharaj is South Africa's leading wicket-taker after surpassing former off-spinner Hugh Tayfield's record of 170 wickets. Left-arm spinner Maharaj now has 202 wickets in 59 Test matches, which includes 11 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul. Maharaj has taken 631 wickets in 166 matches in first-class cricket. Wiaan Mulder took four wickets In reply to South Africa's first innings score of 418 for nine declared, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 251 in which Maharaj took three wickets for 70 runs in 16.4 overs. Wiaan Mulder took four wickets for 50 runs in 16 overs.
