Joseph: It’s just the beginning for West Indies cricket
Shamar Joseph with his team celebrate
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In a stunning turn of events, the dynamic Shamar Joseph played a pivotal role in propelling the West Indies to a monumental upset victory in Test cricket.
With an impressive performance, he claimed seven wickets for just 68 runs, orchestrating the downfall of the reigning champions, Australia, who were dismissed for a mere 207 at their formidable fortress, the Gabba.
This triumph not only squared the series in the battle for the prestigious Frank Worrell Trophy but also showcased the resilience and potential of West Indies cricket.
Joseph's extraordinary contribution took center stage, particularly noteworthy as he had started the day off the field due to a severe blow to his right big toe inflicted by Mitchell Starc the night before.
Undeterred by the setback, Joseph emerged as the architect of chaos, with his scintillating spell nearly single-handedly equalizing the series at one-all.
"Kraigg [Brathwaite] kept coming up and asking if I was alright, but I said I'm not coming off," Joseph said.
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"I said I wanted to do it for the team. I think this win is very important for us and it's just the beginning for West Indies cricket."
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite struggled to contain his emotions after the match.
"It means everything, playing with the legend Brian Lara watching, playing in Australia, a place we haven't won in a number of years," he said.
"To come here with this young group, seven or eight uncapped players is nothing but amazing and special. For us to come and do it against the number one team in the world, here in Australia, is amazing. It shows that once we have the belief and the heart, we can do anything."
Australian captain Pat Cummins said that while the loss hurt he could see the benefit it would have on cricket in the West Indies.
"It hurts -- they outplayed us," Cummins said.
"I know a lot of the talk coming into this series was there's a lot of (West Indian) debutants, but once you put them in an international eleven, you know it's going to be tough.
"They were fantastic -- they've created a couple of new superstars.
"As a cricket fan, as a Test match cricket fan, there's a part of me that's happy."
