Joseph gushes over fairy-tale debut
New West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph said he predicted he would take a wicket with his first ball in Tests, but he could not believe his good fortune that it was his favourite Australia batsman.
The 24-year-old from the remote village of Baracara in Guyana, which is only accessible by boat, captured the prized scalp of former Australia captain Steve Smith to etch his name in the history books when he became only the second player from the Caribbean to take a wicket with his first ball in Tests.
He added the scalp of Marnus Labuschagne a few overs later for good measure to end the day with two for 18 from his six overs, but the hosts and world champions held the edge, reaching 59 for two in reply to the West Indies’ first innings total of 188.
It was a far cry for Joseph from his previous job as a security guard, but the wicket of Smith made the occasion of his
Test debut extra special, even though he was forced to abort his initial approach due to nerves.
“I didn’t miss my run-up,” he told reporters after the day’s play ended. “It was just nervousness bowling to one of the best batsmen in the Australian team that I consider.
“I really love Steve Smith, the way he plays and goes about his cricket, and getting Steve Smith, I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. I will take a picture and post it in my house.”
Joseph composed himself and rendered a failure, the experiment of Smith opening the batting as a replacement for the retired David Warner, when he had Smith caught low at third slip by another newcomer, Justin Greaves.
“I’ve watched a few Test matches of Steve Smith, and I think that area is a weakness for him,” Joseph said. “I just said, ‘I’ll hit the top of off (stump)’, because he’s a batsman that treads across a lot.
“He tries to take you off your line, so I stuck to the basics and tried to hit the top of off with some late movement away and got the edge. I was tense. Bowling to Steve Smith isn’t easy.”
He added: “I had a few conversations with the boys in the dressing room, and I told them I would get a wicket with my first ball.
“I didn’t know it was going to be Steve Smith. That went well for me. I went with a positive mindset. You’re coming up against the best team in Test cricket, so I just came with a positive mindset and did what I do best.”
It capped a memorable entry into the longest format of cricket for Joseph, after he received his Baggy Maroon cap from former West Indies fast bowler, now TV commentator Ian Bishop, before the start of play.