Shamar Joseph, the hero of the second Test at the Gabba, revealed that he was nursing a painful toe and never expected to play any further part in the game just three hours before the start of the penultimate day’s play.
After being struck by a Mitchell Starc yorker, the 24-year-old was forced to retire hurt the previous evening. While he was subsequently cleared of any fracture, the pain remained severe, rendering him unable to bowl as Australia concluded the third day at 60 for two.
However, it was team physio Dr. Denis Byam who urged Joseph to come to the ground instead of staying at the hotel. Following treatment, Joseph was not only fit to take the field but also played a pivotal role in West Indies’ remarkable eight-run victory, securing a series draw at 1-1.
Unexpected turn of events
Joseph shared the unexpected turn of events, saying, “He (Dr. Byam) called me this morning. I was in my bed after 11 a.m. The bus [was] leaving at 12:15 p.m. He asked me how I was feeling, and I said not well, [I was] really in pain, and all these things. And he said ‘Come to the ground. I have a reason.’ I didn’t know this was the reason, but it was for a good reason: to win the Test match for [my] team.”
He continued by expressing his gratitude to Dr. Byam, acknowledging his role in his remarkable comeback. Joseph’s heroics included a spell of seven wickets for 68 runs, which proved instrumental in dismantling the Australian innings. The hosts lost their last eight wickets for 94 runs, allowing West Indies to clinch a tense and thrilling victory.
During Australia’s pursuit of the target of 216 runs, Joseph made his presence felt when he bowled Cameron Green and Travis Head with consecutive deliveries in only his second over. Subsequently, he dismissed four more Australian batsmen, reducing them to 187 for eight by lunch.
The final blow
The final blow came when Alzarri Joseph dismissed Nathan Lyon for nine in the first over after the lunch break, and Shamar Joseph removed the last Australian wicket, Josh Hazlewood, for a duck three overs later. This historic win marked West Indies’ first Test victory on Australian soil in nearly three decades.
Speaking about the mood in the dressing room before the day’s play, Joseph mentioned, “The talk in the dressing room was just positive, that’s all. Just go out there and do it. Take wickets after wickets. It was just all positivity.”
Reflecting on his performance in the series, Joseph stated, “I feel like we’ve won the series. Even though it’s 1-1, I feel like we’ve won the entire series with this Test. And it’s really amazing for my teammates. I must give another shout-out to them. They’re really encouraging, and I’m glad I’ve made them proud.”
Joseph, who made his Test debut just last week in Adelaide, had already impressed in the opening Test, claiming a five-wicket haul in the first innings. While he managed only a single wicket in the first innings at the Gabba, his remarkable seven-wicket haul in the second innings brought his total to 13 scalps. His stellar performance earned him both Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series honors.
