The first Test between the West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, has been marred by controversial decisions from TV umpire Adrian Holdstock, sparking outrage from former cricketers and fans alike. Several contentious calls, particularly on Day 2, have significantly impacted the game, leading to widespread debate and accusations of bias.

The West Indies camp has been left particularly aggrieved, with head coach Daren Sammy seeking clarification from match referee Javagal Srinath regarding the decision-making process. Sammy expressed his frustration, stating that he wants fairness and consistency in the decision-making. He hinted that discussions were underway, stopping short of confirming a formal complaint.

Several former players have voiced their concerns about Holdstock's decisions. Former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop openly disagreed with Holdstock's call to give Roston Chase out LBW, despite UltraEdge showing a possible inside edge. He said, "I disagree with the decision. I disagree with the technology there. I thought he hit that." Carlos Brathwaite stated, "There are not many fans of Adrian Holdstock inside the West Indies dressing room at the moment."

The contentious decisions began on Day 1 when Travis Head edged a ball, and Shai Hope claimed the catch. However, Holdstock ruled it not out, citing a lack of clear evidence that the catch was taken cleanly. Day 2 saw a series of controversial moments, with Roston Chase being involved in two of them. In the first over, Chase survived an LBW appeal despite a spike appearing on Ultraedge before the ball hit the bat, with Holdstock giving the benefit of the doubt. Later, Chase was given out LBW to Pat Cummins, a decision he reviewed, citing a visible deviation near the bat. However, the original verdict was upheld, leading to strong criticism from commentators.

Another debated decision involved Shai Hope, who was given out caught behind after Alex Carey appeared to take a diving catch. Replays seemed to indicate that the ball may have touched the ground during the catch, but Holdstock upheld the on-field decision.

The repeated nature of these questionable calls has led to accusations of bias, with some suggesting that "everything has gone against West Indians". Social media has been flooded with criticism, with some users even suggesting that the West Indies should "walk off the field" in protest.

West Indies coach Daren Sammy has expressed concern about the potential impact of these decisions on his team's morale. He emphasized the importance of trust in the umpires and the need for consistency in decision-making. He stated that he did not want his team to go into a Test match not trusting the umpires.

The controversy surrounding Adrian Holdstock's umpiring has undoubtedly added another layer of intensity to an already compelling Test match. As the game progresses, all eyes will be on the umpires and their decisions, with both teams hoping for a fair and consistent application of the rules.