Third umpire Adrian Holdstock took most of the headlines in the exciting second day of the first Test between Australia and the West Indies on Thursday (June 26) as multiple controversial calls altered the direction of the contest at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.
There were at least four decisions that caused a storm on social media. The biggest one was Alex Carey鈥檚 catch of Shai Hope. The right-hander was given out for 48 after the Australian wicketkeeper celebrated taking a one-handed chance low to his left off the inside edge. However, the on-field umpires requested that Holdstock check it, with replays showing the ball clearly brushing the ground while still in Carey鈥檚 hands.
Holdstock still awarded the dismissal, much to the chagrin of West Indies coach Darren Sammy, who was seen frustrated in the dressing room.
Check the controversial catch here:
Another big call by the third umpire! 馃Г
The Aussies are back in after dismissing the West Indies, but this catch caused a stir鈥 out or not out?
Catch every ball of Australia鈥檚 tour of the West Indies exclusively live on ESPN on Disney+ ? pic.twitter.com/QwFue3FN5n
鈥 ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) June 26, 2025
On the first day, Travis Head was given the benefit of the doubt in a similar moment when Hope, the wicketkeeper, caught him off Shamar Joseph鈥檚 bowling. Umpire Adrian Holdstock was heard saying that he could find 鈥榥o clear replays, which suggest that the ball has gone straight into Hope鈥檚 gloves.鈥
The controversies were compounded when Roston Chase鈥檚 LBW call went against the Windies too, although the skipper was earlier saved by the third umpire, with a decision that left the Australians disappointed. X (formerly Twitter) buzzed by Holdstock鈥檚 name for hours.
鈥淲ho on earth is the third umpire!?!? Has he ever played cricket? Genuinely shocking,鈥 one user said.
鈥淎bsolute Horrendous umpiring by the third umpire Adrian Holdstock .. unlucky West Indies and Shai Hope .. that鈥檚 not a clean catch .. fullstop #AUSvsWI,鈥 another added.
Check some other reactions here:
Didn鈥檛 think we鈥檇 have Sydney 2008 level of incompetence ever again, but that鈥檚 4 howlers from the same third umpire Adrian Holdstock. Time to make this a specialised position instead of rotating between in-person umps who are clearly unfit at adapting to lower quality production https://t.co/GSBZwyIFt5
鈥 raghavbikh.bsky.social (@raghav_bikh) June 26, 2025
The first is not out and the other two are out
West Indies robbed in daylight by 3rd umpire Adrian Holdstock
Never seen worse umpiring decisions in the last 10 years or so with technology available
Unacceptable pic.twitter.com/6DSC9HM1OJ
鈥 Middle Class Chandler (@MC_Chandler01) June 26, 2025
Should be walking off, the Windies. Shouldn鈥檛 be playing with this level of umpiring. The Test has turned on its head with the kind of decisions that has been made. Howler after howler. I get on-field umpires making a few errors, but with tech and replays, nah, can鈥檛 be making so鈥
鈥 Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 26, 2025
I鈥檓 actually 100% serious this third umpire needs removing from this game NOW, Carey has so obviously grassed that and surprise surprise the Aussies are cheating, same old ?
鈥 Alasdair ???? (@Alasdair333) June 26, 2025
Have no clue what the third umpire is watching.@ICC has to be more vigilant. Humans yes, but they are operating with the help of technology.
Way too many questionable calls. https://t.co/fdGIFNb0j3
鈥 Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 26, 2025
This third umpire鈥檚 bank statements need checking
鈥 鉀凤笍 (@stokaljona) June 26, 2025
The visitors ended the day at 92/4, 82 runs ahead in the second innings, with the Test heading towards a possible three-day finish.