Shamar’s Tale for Millennium, Directed at Gabba

 

Aussie great Steven Smith was left stranded at the other end as West Indies’ diaspora-at every corner of the world-erupted with joy and ecstasy when the peach from Shamar Joseph’s pink-ball wizardry had a better off Josh Hazelwood’s top of off-stump in what termed as the befitting finale to another Australian summer.  

As soon as bails dislodged, it was Joseph’s sprint through the Gabba that captured the spotlight from every miraculous affair’s cricket fraternity saw this summer down under.

A guy who is just one test veteran had already witnessed the historic moment that West Indies cricket was bothered to sight since 1997, last when the Caribbeans emerged as the victorious here.

Not to just behold the sight, Shamar Joseph guided the ruthless run by dismantling the great Australian attack inside two sessions of play resulting in the Windies becoming only the second team to defeat Aussies at the Brisbane in 32 years (India did it in 2020-21 series).

Acknowledging the fact that Shamar swathed the hosts following the harrowing injury to his right toe a day before which grappled him on the verge of ruling out makes it awe-inspiring for future tales.

Coming off late in the spell, he produced an orchestrated run of consecutive 10 overs before heading for the final session. This was the play that proved to be decisive where he scalped a 6-fer and plotted an unimaginable.

However, this imposing journey of Shamar Joseph dates back to the adversities he encountered and how he braved that struggle to hog the limelight on the biggest stage.

Though he had envisaged representing his nation at the highest level from his yesteryears, the geographic and financial weakness meant he had to simulate the work that was prominent in their village, Baracara, for living with his family.

Once--with logging as their main source--he nearly succumbed to the felling tree which almost got the better of him & it flashed his whole life before him and that proved game changer to where he is currently standing.

From there on, he didn’t look backward and went on to spark the Guyanese team doors as well as West Indies’ one in a span of just 3 years.

He met his national captain Kraigg Brathwaite in Adelaide prior to the big series and by the conclusion of the series, he managed to convince his skipper that he should go all-out and rip apart mighty Australian batting consisting of seasoned stalwarts.

But the frame he succeeded in was largely due to his exploits in the debut game where he pounced on the home side by removing Steve Smith on the very first delivery he bowled at Adelaide. He went on to clinch his maiden 5-wicket haul in that innings as well.

With Roach, Alzarri Joseph, and possibly Jason Holder already in the artillery of West Indies’ bowling unit, the addition of Shamar Joseph flaunts the variety of personnel the Caribbean has into their mix. The need is to crack these bundles in high-profile series or tournaments rather than exploiting them in world domestic leagues.

West Indies cricket has given birth to a solid force in Shamar that reminisces the prowess of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, and Michael Holding. Stakes are high, and so is the potential of the Guyanese bull.