WI vs AUS: Shamar Joseph Denied Five-Wicket Haul After Controversial Third Umpire Call
Shamar Joseph denied five-wicket haul vs Australia after third umpire rules Travis Head not out on disputed catch
Shamar Joseph was left frustrated and the Barbados crowd disappointed after a controversial third umpire decision denied him a five-wicket haul on Day 1 of the first Test against Australia. The incident came in the 46th over, during a period where Joseph was clearly the most threatening West Indies bowler.
Bowling short and wide to Travis Head, Joseph got the batter to flash hard. The ball took the edge and flew to wicketkeeper Shai Hope, who dived to his left and claimed the catch. Umpire Nitin Menon, however, was not convinced and gave it not out on the field. Joseph appealed instantly, but Hope wasn’t sure the catch had carried cleanly. Skipper Roston Chase also chose not to review the decision.
Despite no review from the batting side, Menon consulted square-leg umpire Kumar Dharmasena and sent it upstairs. Third umpire Adrian Holdstock was brought into the picture, with replays and UltraEdge used to assess the moment.
UltraEdge confirmed a clear spike as the ball passed the bat, ruling out any doubt about contact. But the confusion was all about the catch. One camera angle appeared to show the ball possibly brushing the turf just before reaching Hope’s gloves. Another angle was less helpful, not giving a definitive view either way.
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After a lengthy review, Holdstock stuck with the on-field call and ruled Head not out, citing lack of “conclusive evidence” that the catch was clean. The decision didn’t sit well with the crowd at Kensington Oval, who had backed Joseph passionately throughout the day.
Joseph, who had already taken four wickets, looked visibly disappointed. Given the inconsistent fielding by the West Indies earlier where they dropped four catches the missed chance felt even more bitter.
