West Indies’ New Speedster Shamar Joseph Shines in Warm-Up, Exciting Whispers for Adelaide Test
Australia had their first taste of West Indies’ fiery young quick, Shamar Joseph, on Thursday, and the 24-year-old unleashed a performance that left mouths watering. One of seven uncapped players in the touring squad, Joseph tore through the Cricket Australia XI batting order with a 2-28 spell on day two of the warm-up match.
With the red Kookaburra zipping at chest height, the right-armer unleashed a barrage of bouncers on Australia’s top order. One delivery even sailed over the wicketkeeper’s head for four byes, showcasing Joseph’s raw pace and aggression.
He comfortably clocked the fastest speeds of the day, and his peach of a delivery to dismiss West Australian batsman Teague Wyllie for 13 was a masterclass in swing bowling.
Earlier, Joseph had removed opener Jayden Goodwin with a full-pitched delivery that snicked through to the keeper, claiming his first wicket in just his second over. His efforts helped restrict the CA XI to 174, handing the West Indies a valuable 77-run lead in the first innings.
Despite his recent first-class debut last year, Joseph has already showcased his potential with 21 wickets at 21.80 in just five matches. He further solidified his talent with 12 scalps during the West Indies A tour of South Africa, including a five-wicket haul.
However, Joseph’s journey hasn’t been solely paved with pitches and wickets. He recently signed for the Dubai Capitals in the International League T20, but before that, he juggled cricket aspirations with the responsibility of working as a security guard to support his family.
His raw pace and undeniable work ethic have generated excitement about his prospects for West Indies cricket. Former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop praised his “hustle, bustle” and believes “there’s a lot of high hopes for him because of his attitude and physical capabilities.”
Joseph himself is confident about his chances. Having recently worked as a security guard to support his family, he wasn’t surprised by his selection for the Australian tour.
“Playing for West Indies was my dream,” he told News Room Guyana last month. “I think I would do very well over there (in Australia). I have confidence I will go there and do good.”
With the first Test against Australia starting next week at Adelaide Oval, all eyes are on whether Joseph will crack the starting XI. His fiery performance in the warm-up has certainly added fuel to the fire, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits to see if the young paceman can translate his talent onto the big stage.
