Coach Darren Sammy was left screaming in disbelief after the West Indies dropped two catches in the same over on day two of the Bridgetown Test, with Australian opener Sam Konstas the beneficiary on both occasions.
Earlier, in Australia’s second innings, Konstas was yet to score when he charged at West Indies seamer Shamar Joseph, with the thick outside edge sailing towards John Campbell at third slip — but the regulation catch was grassed.
Two deliveries later, Joseph once again found the edge of Konstas’ bat with a well-directed outswinger, but the low chance was put down by Justin Greaves, typically one of the West Indies’ most reliable fielders.
A frustrated Sammy failed to hide his emotions in the dugout. Joseph, to his credit, had a laugh as he returned to the top of his mark.
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“Oh my goodness me,” former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop said in commentary.
“This is ridiculous, it really is, unacceptable.
“Some things are non-negotiables.”
Five chances have been dropped off Joseph’s bowling across the match, with the West Indies fielders guilty of putting down six catches in total at Kensington Oval.
“At this level, you can’t give good players three or four opportunities,” former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite continued.
“They are regulation slip catches. It is unacceptable to ask your fast bowlers to run in ball after ball, over after over, create chances and then you grass them in the slips.
“They are very easy chances.”
Since the start of 2024, Joseph has had 11 catches dropped off his bowling, the most for any Test player during that period.
Konstas couldn’t make the most of his double reprieve, later chopping on for 5 to become Joseph’s first victim of the innings.