Things were not looking good for West Indian pacer Shamar Joseph as he had to retire injured after taking a blow to his toe following a vicious yorker from Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. As a result, West Indies were bowled out for 193 on Day 3 of the 2nd Test in Brisbane. However, with Australia needing just 216 runs to sweep the two-match series, Shamar, who made his debut in the series opener, was taken for scans and luckily no fracture was discovered.
Despite not being 100 percent, Joseph came out with extra motivation to bowl in the fourth innings.
“I wasn't even planning on getting on the ground today. But the doctor did something to my toe. I don't know what he did. But it worked,” Joseph said after the match.
Not only did he bowl, Joseph also orchestrated the West Indies' first Test victory on Australian soil in 27 years.
With the pink ball in hand, Joseph started the carnage with Usman Khawaja's wicket on Day 3.
He eventually returned with figures of 7/68 in 11.5 overs, bowling out Australia for 207.
“I was in pain. But I told my captain that I will bowl until the Australian wicket falls no matter how much my toe hurts,” Joseph further revealed.
The West Indies last won in Australia at the WACA in Perth in 1997. The legendary Curtly Ambrose had taken seven wickets in that Test, while Brian Lara, who was at the Gabba on Sunday, hit 132 in the first innings.
Who is Shamar Joseph?
Shamar Joseph was born on August 31, 1999 in Baracara, Guyana. He grew up idolizing legendary West Indian pacers Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. In 2021 he worked as a security guard in Berbice. Joseph's financial situation was such that he used melted bottles and fruits as cricket balls.
Joseph first came to notice while playing for Tucber Park Cricket Club in a pair of First and Second Division matches.
However, he got his first break in cricket through compatriot Romario Shephered, who is now his neighbour.
Joseph made his first-class debut for Guyana against Barbados on February 1, 2023 during the 2022-2023 West Indies Championship.
Last year in October, he made his List A debut for Guyana against Barbados in the 2023/24 Super50 Cup.
During last year's Caribbean Premier League, he was named as an injury replacement for Keemo Paul in the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad. However, he only played two games in the season.
In December 2023, Joseph earned his first Test call-up for the two-match series against Australia.
On his debut, he made an immediate impact, hitting his very first ball in Test cricket. He became only the second West Indian cricketer, after Tyrell Johnson, to take a wicket on his first ball in Test cricket.
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