Lionhearted Joseph battles through pain to deliver West Indies victory

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January 28, 2024
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BRISBANE (Agencies): Shamar Joseph shrugged off injury to bowl at express pace for nearly 12 overs straight in Brisbane, claiming 7-68 as West Indies stunned Australia by eight runs to get their first Test win Down Under since 1997 on Sunday. Australia had been cruising towards the victory target of 216 early on day four of the day-night second Test until an injured Joseph, playing his first test series, returned to the field and shocked the world champions with a fiery showcase of fast bowling. The 24-year-old saved his best for last, uprooting the off-stump of tailender Josh Hazlewood (0) with sheer speed before dashing across the Gabba outfield, thumping his chest in celebration with his team mates. “I wasn’t even coming to the ground this morning,” the man of the series said. Joseph retired hurt on Saturday when his right toe was struck by a Mitchell Starc yorker which ended West Indies’ second innings at 193. “(My doctor) said ‘come to the ground, I have a reason’. I didn’t know this was the reason but it’s a good reason to win the test match for your team,” Joseph said. “Even though it’s 1-1, I feel like we’ve won the entire series.” In the first innings, the eighth-ranked West Indies had made 311 before Australia’s Pat Cummins boldly declared while still behind at 289-9 to bowl again under lights. That decision came back to bite the team when, 30 overs into Australia’s run-chase, Joseph beat Cameron Green (42) and sent Travis Head packing for a king pair.

Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey fared no better, and Joseph celebrated his second five-wicket haul, bettering his 5-94 in the Adelaide test, by exacting revenge on Starc who was caught at point for a quick 21. New opener Steve Smith (91 not out) could only watch as the carnage unfolded around him. “I told my skipper I would bowl until the end, until the last wicket falls. It doesn’t matter how my toes are,” Joseph said. “I want to do that for my team and my country and everyone in the Caribbean.” The victory comes at an otherwise low ebb for West Indies cricket, after the islanders failed in 2023 to qualify for the 50-over World Cup for the first time. Guyana native Joseph, who sensationally had Smith caught in Adelaide off his first ball in Test cricket, has been signed by Dubai Capitals for the International League T20 tournament.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS 311

AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS 289-9 dec

WEST INDIES 2ND INNINGS 193

AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS (target 216 runs)

Steven Smith not out 91

Usman Khawaja c Da Silva b AS Joseph 10

Marnus Labuschagne c Sinclair b Greaves 5

Cameron Green b S Joseph 42

Travis Head b S Joseph 0

Mitchell Marsh c Greaves b S Joseph 10

Alex Carey b S Joseph 2