Sammy Moves On from Umpiring Controversy, Says 'I Hold No Grudges' Ahead of Grenada Test

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has put the umpiring controversy of the first Test in Barbados behind him, stating he holds no ill will towards TV umpire Adrian Holdstock, who will now serve as an on-field official in the second Test in Grenada.

Sammy was fined 15% of his match fee and handed a demerit point by the ICC after publicly criticising Holdstock’s decisions, particularly surrounding dismissals of Roston Chase and Shai Hope. Chase, who also voiced strong dissatisfaction after the game, escaped official sanction.

Speaking ahead of the Grenada Test, Sammy confirmed that match officials had since acknowledged mistakes made during the opening Test and said he was ready to move forward.

"We've had further chats [with the officials]. They've clarified some stuff. There has been some admission of error as well. This was Barbados and we're now in Grenada, so we've left that behind," Sammy said.

Asked if he regretted his post-match comments, Sammy responded: “I don't hold grudges. I said what I said, based on what I saw. I've been punished for it. I wish Adrian all the best, to be honest. I mean, we're all human. I have nothing against the umpires. I really wish he has an awesome game.”

Sammy had previously said he didn't want his players to front the post-match media due to the “questions that would have been posted at them.” However, he remains firm in his stance, adding, “I strongly believed in what I said.”

Australia, meanwhile, have steered clear of the debate but acknowledged that several decisions went their way during the Barbados Test. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey admitted that he had doubts whether his catch to dismiss Shai Hope would be upheld after seeing the replay, even though he was confident he had taken it cleanly.

“It’s been a really difficult shift in third umpiring – what’s out and what’s not out,” Carey said. “Your opinion is different to my opinion. I thought that was a pretty difficult game, to have five, six, seven 50-50 examples for the third umpire.”

Carey’s catch, which removed Hope for 48 in his return Test after three-and-a-half years, was one of several close decisions in the match. Another flashpoint came when Roston Chase was given out lbw to Pat Cummins for 40, prompting visible frustration from the West Indies camp.

Holdstock had earlier ruled a low catch by Hope off Travis Head in Australia's innings as not out. Despite the tensions, Carey praised the overall handling of decisions: “He's not going to please everyone up there, but I thought he did a really good job. We obviously know the other camp was a little bit disappointed with some of them. I understand that.”

Holdstock will now officiate on-field in Grenada alongside Richard Kettleborough, who is set to stand in his 93rd Test match—surpassing David Shepherd to become the most experienced English Test umpire. Nitin Menon will join Holdstock for the final Test in Jamaica.

As the series heads to Grenada, both teams are focused on moving forward, with the West Indies aiming to bounce back from a defeat in Barbados and Australia looking to maintain their edge in what has already been a hard-fought contest.