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I had seen glimpses of the latest West Indies hero and Test cricket’s newest star while catching highlights of last season’s regional four-day competition. I could not remember his first name but I did remember “Joseph”.
But most of all, from the highlights, I remember he hit people’s off stump hard! Very hard! The wicketkeeper, standing back, was taking his deliveries head high or chest high.
I remember telling everyone who cared to listen that even if we were going to be trashed, look out for this fella.
Fortunately, the Right Honourable Desmond Haynes must have been equally impressed; enough to give him the break on the biggest Test match stage: Australia.
It is true to say that we left these shores without any real hope, or any Shai Hope who, along with many of his colleagues, declined selection—hoping to have their cakes and nyam IPL food, while professing their interest and desire to play for the West Indies in the longer formats.
Let me repeat here, I have no problems with cricketers earning their dollars! Go make your money brethren! But let me also state that I do not stay up late at night to watch any IPL, SAPL, EPL, WPL or any other PL in the alphabet.
I would flick channels to find a western or follow Aljazeera and the BBC to see how many Palestinians have been killed.
Let me also state here and now that those who are willing to play for us, we must stick with them! How well that would work is left to be seen. By the next draft of the next PL somewhere: Shamar Joseph is on that list!
The question was posed to him in the post match interview. He did not flinch. He did not dodge the issue. He answered directly and clearly.
He would play cricket for the West Indies if presented with the choice. But I would say to the CWI. Those who are willing to play for us, make it financially worthwhile for them.
Joseph was named Man of the Series.
Photo: Getty Images
I was struck by the spirit in the team (including officials), as evidenced by the emotional display after we had won the game. Seven uncapped players at the start of the tour, little or no warm-up games and a handful of players with some useful experience, did the impossible.
Shamar Joseph kept harping on it and repeated it over and over and he was not even supposed to be at the ground today!
Perhaps he is just out of Baracara and not yet tainted by the bright lights of fame and fortune. It brings to mind an anecdote I heard about the late Roy Fredericks on his first West Indies tour to Australia in 1968/9.
Photo: Patrick Eagar via Getty Images
We were playing a state match and Graham McKenzie, the Australian opening fast bowler played for that state. Freddo was getting hit all over his body by McKenzie.
Between overs the non-striker (also on his first tour), asked Freddo what was going on, to which Freddo replied: “I ain’t going back to cut cane in Guyana!”
I have heard Mr Joseph echo similar sentiments about his career as a security guard.
I noted our captain’s response to Rodney Hogg’s very disparaging remarks about his team. It inspired them to prove him wrong. On that note, I hope it would shut up some commentators and radio sports journalists here in the West Indies.
Pat Cummins too, declared his innings 22 runs behind! He and all ain’t care nothing ‘bout we! While it is good and positive attacking cricket, I doubt he would have done that against opposition he respected!
We were able to bowl Australia out twice in this truncated series; once in the First Test and now today in the second and final Test.
Photo: Cricket Australia/ Getty
The other bowlers did very well. Alzarri Joseph was quick and beat the bat often. Kemar Roach got the ball to move. So too did Justin Greaves.
It meant the Australians did not get many big partnerships. There were some excellent field placements and traps being set for certain batsmen which paid dividends.
The catching was good! But problems persist with the batting. We have real problems with the opening partnership. Neither one of these two chaps seems to know where their off-stump is.
The new, young and inexperienced middle order showed brief glimpses of ability but seemed unable to put an innings together. The lower order and the tail wagged enough to keep us in the game.
Joshua Da Silva is making progress both behind the stumps and in front of them.
The task now is to keep this squad together and build a strong cohesive unit. You can’t teach guts and determination. You can’t teach pride and love of your country!
Copyright: Getty Images
Chief selector Haynes was brave and bold. And the players have answered!
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How do you think brave and bold Chief Selector Haynes’ ODI and T20 squads will fare? It would have been nice to put your money where your mouth is ex-ante facto; hindsight tells us absolutely nothing about your vision. Or your insight.
Great performance from a team most of the pundits had written off. I still believe much can be done to improve the quality of our coaches (especially batting) around the caribbean. A lot of our batters are coming through the system and into the test setup with serious technical flaws. I know finances continue to hamstring the board but directing scarce resources in these key areas of player development can yield a lot more of these joyous moments for players and fans.