“Goosebumps moment!”- Ex-security guard Shamar Joseph, whose toe got crushed by Mitchell Starc yorker, guides West Indies to historic victory at ‘fortress’ GABBA

Shamar Joseph picked up 7 wickets and bowled 12 overs on the trot despite his injured toe.

“Goosebumps moment!”- Ex-security guard Shamar Joseph, whose toe got crushed by Mitchell Starc yorker, guides West Indies to historic victory at ‘fortress’ GABBA

Shamar Joseph runs in joy after picking up his 7th wicket of the the innings (Image via ESPN)

Shamar Joseph made his First Class debut only a year ago, representing Guyana against Barbados. He picked up his first fifer against Windward Islands in his 2nd game and earned the reputation of one of Guyana’s most exciting pacers. After playing only four first class matches, he was called up for the West Indies tour of Australia. 

On his debut, he picked up the wicket of Steve Smith on his very first ball. He ended his first innings as a Test cricketer with a fifer. In the 2nd Test match, at Australia’s fortress Gabba, he managed to pick up only one wicket. While batting in the 2nd innings, a toe-crushing yorker by Mitchell Starc forced him to retire hurt. Although he was cleared of fracture, many were unsure if he could bowl on the 4th day of the Test. 

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Despite the injury, Joseph stepped up and took seven wickets to get West Indies their first Test win in 27 years. After Smith and Cameron Green survived the opening spell of the day from Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves, Joseph was introduced into the attack. In his first over he gave away 10 runs, but took the wickets of Green and Travis Head in his 2nd. 

In his 4th over, he got the wicket of Mitchell Marsh and got Alex Carey in the very next over. The captain decided to keep bowling the pacer, who looked in great rhythm. He once again gave returns as he dismissed Starc and Pat Cummins in a span of four deliveries. After dinner, Alzarri Joseph got the wicket of Nathan Lyon and the rookie finished the game by bowling out Josh Hazlewood. 

Fans hail Shamar Joseph as iconic spell leads to one of West Indies’s greatest wins 

Over two years ago, Shamar Joseph worked as a security guard in New Amsterdam, Guyana. He worked 12-hour shifts and tried to juggle it with his cricket career. Deciding to give it all to cricket, he quit his job and a year later he’s the architect of West Indies’s most iconic Test victory in the 21st century. 

Shamar Joseph
Shamar Joseph poses with his Player of the Match and Player of the series trophies (Image via ESPN)

Seeing his iconic spell, many fans couldn’t stop praising the rookie for his amazing performance. They hailed the fact that he bowled 12 overs consecutively despite the injured toe and picked up seven wickets. Others praised him for his journey from being a security guard to one of the most exciting Test cricketers. 

Check out their reactions: 

https://twitter.com/vsk_says/status/1751520623015371097?s=20

For his performances in the series, he was awarded the Man of the Series. In the post-match presentation, Joseph revealed that he told his captain that he would bowl regardless of what happens to his toe. He was limping between overs but still kept bowling at speeds that troubled the Australian batters. He finished the series with 13 wickets with an average of 17.3. 

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