Shamar Joseph will be remembered for a long time in the West Indies cricketing fraternity for what he did earlier today at the iconic Gabba stadium in Brisbane against the mighty Test and ODI world champions Australia. However, according to Joseph himself, none of that could have happened if the visiting team did not have a qualified and competent medical staff.
During the 3rd innings when West Indies were out in the field with the bat trying to set up a defendable total, their last batter in the tail Shamar Joseph was retired hurt after enduring a painful toe-crushing yorker from left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc in all its glory.
The lethality of the yorker was such that Joseph’s toe was bleeding as he walked off to the dressing room with support on both sides. His participation in West Indies’ 216-run defense looked extremely bleak and everyone including the team management had thought his dreamy Test debut series had come to an end.
Going back in time to the 1st Test in Adelaide then Shamar Joseph was on top of the world with a five-for on debut and claiming Steve Smith in his first ball of international cricket and fast forward to yesterday, Joseph has been brought back to the ground.
But who knew that there was going to be a fairytale ending his debut series? Who knew that Joseph would go on to claim the man of the match as well as the series award at the end of the series? And who knew that West Indies’ medical staff would be so efficient that they would not let the toe-crusher from Starc negatively impact Shamar Joseph? The answer is none.
While speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, the 24-year-old admitted himself that all the credits should be given to the doctors for his return as he thought that he was not coming back for day 4.
“I wasn’t even coming out to the ground this morning to be fair. I must give a shout-out to the doctor. But I came and he did something to my toe. I don’t know what he did but something worked. So I just had that time to go out there and bowl and bring this game home for my team. It doesn’t matter how my toes are, I’m okay. I did it for him and I am happy that he is proud of me now.” – Joseph said.
“I Feel Like We Won The Entire Series”, Shamar Joseph Gives His Honest Take
The things that Shamar Joseph said during the post-match presentation were very enlightening. He stated that the 2nd Test win which helped West Indies equal the series by 1-1, rather felt like a series win. The 24-year-old said that he doesn’t feel any pain in his toes after all that unfolded for him in the 2nd Test and also added that he cried after claiming the five-for in the 1st Test.