West Indies captain Roston Chase has made a strong case for holding match officials accountable after his side's 159-run loss to Australia in the opening Test at Kensington Oval. Despite bowling out the visitors for just 180 in the first innings, the West Indies struggled to capitalise.
They suffered a collapse which Chase believes was fuelled by a string of controversial umpiring calls. The home side was rocked by two disputed dismissals during their innings - including Chase himself being adjudged lbw and Shai Hope caught behind.
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The decisions were made at a critical phase that halted the team's momentum. The Australians eventually pulled away to win convincingly but the West Indies camp has made it clear they feel the match was influenced by more than just on-field performances.
What did Roston Chase say about umpiring errors and accountability?
Speaking after the match, Chase vented out his frustration of playing under such circumstances. He said there must be consequences for officials when major errors are made; especially in situations that can affect a player's career trajectory.
"It's frustrating because as players, when we mess up or we do stuff that people don't like, we're penalised harshly, but the officials, nothing ever happens to them. You're talking about guys' careers. One bad decision could make or break a guy’s career," said Chase.
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The West Indies skipper highlighted that his team had been in a strong position after dismissing Australia cheaply. But once the questionable decisions started going against them, the psychological toll was visible.
Chase and Hope were forming a steady partnership before both were dismissed to contentious calls.
"Me and Shai Hope were going well and then, obviously, we had some questionable calls. That really set us back. You see what set batters can do on the wicket. The hardest part is to get in - and we were doing that," he added.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy backed Chase's stance and pointed out the inconsistent use of technology, particularly by TV umpire Adrian Holdstock. Sammy expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in decisions made during key moments of the Test.
The match leaves West Indies trailing 0-1 in the series but Chase's post-match comments have now sparked a larger conversation around officiating standards in Test cricket.