West Indies cricketer Shamar Joseph vented his frustration at the third umpire after being denied a potential five-wicket haul during the first Test against Australia at Kensington Oval. On a day where he showcased exceptional bowling skills by dismantling the Australian top order, Joseph had managed to claim four wickets, culminating in a brilliant delivery that bowled Beau Webster.
At that point, Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 5-126, with Travis Head at the crease on 53 runs. In an attempt to play aggressively, Head edged a wide delivery, which wicketkeeper Shai Hope was uncertain he had caught cleanly. Umpires Nitin Menon and Richard Kettleborough opted to refer the decision to the third umpire, Adrian Holdstock.
Reviewing the UltraEdge technology, it appeared that Head had indeed edged the ball before Hope’s gloves came into play. However, the replays showed the catch from multiple angles and left little clarity. Ultimately, Holdstock concluded there was no “clear evidence” that the ball had cleanly entered Hope’s glove, leading to the controversial decision of not out.
West Indies legend Ian Bishop, who was commentating during the match, expressed his disbelief, noting that a square angle may have provided clearer evidence of the dismissal. Following the incident, Joseph was seen smiling and placing his hands on his face, conveying his disappointment at the decision.
Despite the setback, the West Indies attack maintained pressure, and shortly thereafter, Head was dismissed for 59 runs, caught behind while facing Justin Greaves. The Australian innings faltered further, and they were eventually bowled out for a mere 180, with Joseph concluding his impressive performance with figures of 4-46.
The decision to deny Joseph a wicket may have sparked debate, but ultimately, it did not detract from his significant contributions on the opening day of the Test match.