West Indies debutant Shamar Joseph got his Test career off to a flyer on Day 1 against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
After impressing with the bat scoring a quickfire 36 to help the tourists reach 188, Joseph looked even better with ball in hand.
The quick bowled at speeds above 140km/h over his six overs but it was his first ball that attracted the most attention as he dismissed Steve Smith for 12 in the Aussie’s first chance atop the order.
Joseph caught Smith’s outside edge with Justin Greaves taking a low catch at third slip.
The fairytale start to his Test career had to be seen to be believed and the SEN Cricket commentary team of Simon Katich, Bharat Sundaresan and Dwayne Russell were wowed by the moment on the live call.
The duo discussed Joseph’s unique backstory before he ran into bowl where he dismissed the all-time great at the striker’s end.
"You can't write the script like that surely!"
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) January 17, 2024
Shamar Joseph get's his FIRST wicket with his FIRST ball in Test cricket by dismissing Steve Smith! 😱😱😱#HenleyHomes #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/FNPeaXbzxM
What a moment for Shamar Joseph 👏
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 17, 2024
He gets the wicket of Steve Smith with his first ball in Test Cricket!
📺 WATCH #AUSvWI on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports https://t.co/BtKGJLI8RP
📝 BLOG https://t.co/vYD6R3X9Ys
📲 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/iAHvDpkPfM pic.twitter.com/Vx6MYbbLB9
Sundaresan: “It’s an exciting moment for Shamar Joseph, an incredible story of a man who grows up in a village (in Guyana).
“He leaves his village … his family is in a logging business because that’s the only thing you can do in Baracara where he comes from.
“He sees his life flash before his eyes and says, ‘No, I need to do something better in life’, he moves to the closest big town and here is making his Test debut two years later.”
Russell: “He’s bowling to Steve Smith of all people … the way he batted, you just get the feeling he’ll take a wicket tonight.
“He had so much confidence when he batted, you can’t say that he’ll be anything but confident with the ball, that’s his craft!”
Katich: “Correct, and am I right to say he was identified by Curtly Ambrose at a fast-bowling camp?”
Sundaresan: “Yep. It’s amazing and Curtly Ambrose has stayed in touch with him ever since.”
Russell: “If you’re a kid and Curtly says you can bowl, you believe in yourself.
“In he comes, Steve Smith … no way, he’s out first ball. Unbelievable! He gets a wicket with the first delivery he’s bowled (in Test cricket) and to Steve Smith, one of the greats of all time!
“You can’t write a script like that surely!”
Katich: “What about announcing yourself to the world of Test cricket? With your very first ball, you get Steve Smith out, and it was an absolute beauty.
“He sparred at it, got the outside edge and it was a good catch at third slip.”
Russell: “He had to get low, I didn’t think it was going to carry.”
Sundaresan: “Talk about fairytales coming true!”
After dismissing Smith, Joseph would end up also claiming the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne on 10 after the number three was caught at fine leg taking on a short ball.
The man on debut has another!!
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) January 17, 2024
Shamar Joseph grabs his second wicket of the day as he send Marnus Labuschagne on his way for 10.#HenleyHomes #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/Jrl9Ij6K0C
What a debut Shamar Joseph is having! 👏
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 17, 2024
📺 WATCH #AUSvWI on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports https://t.co/BtKGJLI8RP
📝 BLOG https://t.co/vYD6R3X9Ys
📲 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/iAHvDpkPfM pic.twitter.com/MPqbLnExog
The West Indian debutant finished Day 1 with figures of 2/18 from six overs.
Play resumes on Thursday morning (AEDT) in Adelaide at 10:30 am. Listen to every ball LIVE on the SEN app.
