Emotional moment cricket legend breaks down in tears after watching West Indies claim historic win over Australia
- Carl Hooper was in tears after the West Indies win
- They achieved a stunning victory over Australia
- Cricket legend was overcome with joy
Carl Hooper could not contain his joy on a day that will go down in the history of West Indies cricket history.
Windies legend Hooper, 57, was at the Gabba as Shamar Joseph tore through Australia to help his country achieve a stunning victory on Sunday, beating Pat Cummins’ world champion by eight runs.
It is the first time in 27 years that the visitors have won in Australia.
And in a clip uploaded to social media by ABC Sport’s Ben Cameron, Hooper was seen in disbelief with his hands on his head, tears rolling down his cheeks, as Jim Maxwell called the moment a West Indies victory.
“Shamar Joseph has lit West Indian cricket on fire. It’s a great feeling to be a West Indian,” said Brian Lara, commentator for Fox Sports.
Carl Hooper broke down in tears after West Indies’ historic victory
That the 24-year-old was on the field at all spoke volumes for his commitment and courage after Joseph withdrew injured on the third night and was thrown off the field limping when he was hit on his right big toe by Starc.
Joseph was cleared of fracture and initially took the field on the fourth morning despite warming up with the West Indian squad before playing.
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.
‘What a champion. Eighteen months ago he wasn’t even on stage,” Lara enthuses on Fox Cricket.
The underdogs won in Australia for the first time in 27 years
Joseph bowled Cameron Green (42) and then yorked the next ball from Travis Head on the fourth day to ensure Australia’s No. 5 bagged a king pair for the Test.
He then dropped Mitch Marsh (10) into the slips and bowled Alex Carey (two), but he was just warming up at the time.
Joseph snared Mitchell Starc (21) as he took cover and skipper Pat Cummins (two) was caught behind.
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, Joseph came back out after the break and delivered the knockout punch, bowling a ripsnorter to Josh Hazlewood.