- Shamar Joseph has vowed to continue playing Test cricket
- Joseph has branded himself as a new superstar
- But he wants to continue his red-ball career
West Indies’ new superstar Shamar Joseph has vowed to commit to Test cricket and reject the riches of T20 after bowling his side to a stunning eight-run win over Australia at the Gabba.
Despite having the big toe of his right foot crushed by a Mitchell Starc yorker on the third evening, the 24-year-old bowled 11.5 overs unchanged to win 7-68, securing a 1-1 draw in the series and the Player -of-Play won. the competition and series prizes.
When asked how he would react if the cashed-up T20 franchises come in, Joseph was emphatic.
“I will always be here to play Test cricket for the West Indies,” Joseph said.
‘I’m not afraid to say this live. There will be times when T20 will come along and Test cricket will be there… but I will always be available to play for the West Indies no matter how much money comes my way.”
Shamar Joseph has made a surprising promise that could cost him millions
Joseph broke Australia’s batting order and sealed a fairytale victory
His match-winning spell on the fourth day left Brian Lara hailing him as ‘a champion’ and Hooper crying in the ABC commentary box.
Lara attended Joseph’s post-match press session and filmed it on his phone, grinning from ear to ear.
Former Test quick Ian Bishop went a step further and called it one of the greatest debuts in Test cricket.
“A real dream come true for ‘Joseph the Deliver for the West Indies,'” he said on Channel 7.
“There will be congratulations from Kingston, from Georgetown to Guyana.
“This is just the start of a legendary career, but it’s hard to find anything in the history of the game that can top this.
“There won’t be many people sleeping rough in the Caribbean right now, I can tell you that.”
Joseph didn’t think he would even bowl on Sunday after a sleepless night. He said Captain Kraigg Brathwaite had shown enormous faith that he wanted to repay.
“I met the captain on this tour and he is great,” he said.
“Even if he wanted me to get away, I wouldn’t get away. I just wanted to make him proud.
‘It was great to do this for Ian Bishop, Carl Hooper and Brian Lara.
‘Last night I lay in bed in terrible pain. I didn’t fall asleep until four o’clock. At 11:30 the doctor (Denis Byam) came and said: ‘I need you on the floor’.
‘I lay down on the floor and he gave me a tablet. I don’t know what it was, but it worked for me. This is my second Test match and I feel like I have played 100.”
That Joseph was on the field at all spoke volumes for his commitment and courage after limping off the field in retirement on the third night.
He was cleared of fracture and initially took the field on the fourth morning despite warming up with the West Indian squad before playing.
He says he will continue to play Test cricket and will not take T20 money
His entry into the bowling changed the Test match, after he took five wickets on debut in Adelaide to announce himself as one of the West Indies’ biggest hopes in Test cricket.
The Guyana man limped as he moved around the field as the toe injury began to take its toll, but he was undeterred.
After bowling 10 straight overs before tea and taking six wickets, Joseph came back out after the break and delivered the knockout punch, bowling a ripsnorter to Josh Hazlewood.
“Twelve months ago his dream was to play first-class cricket, 12 months later he has led the West Indies to their most remarkable Test match victory,” Bishop said.
“Test match cricket is alive and well.”