Dear Editor,
There are cricket memories in my mind that I will never ever forget; some of those I have witnessed in person, some I have seen on television, and some I listened to on the radio. However, none can compare to what I saw on television in the early hours of Sunday, January 28, 2024.
I had the privilege of seeing my hero Alvin Kallicharran make his first Test century on debut at Bourda against New Zealand in 1972. Earlier in that same series, I was absolutely blown away by Sir George Lawrence Rowe making 214 and 100 unbeaten on his Test debut at Sabina Park in Jamaica. In 1977, I listened keenly to the radio as Colin Everton Croft destroyed Pakistan on Test debut with devastating fast bowling to claim 8 wickets for 29 runs. A certain Barbadian by the name of Joel Garner also made his debut in that Test match, and the two of them went on to accompany Andy Roberts and Michael Holding to form the most feared pace quartet in cricket history.
Curtly Ambrose’s devastating 7 wickets for 1 run at the WACA against Australia in 1993 was special, just as his 6 wickets for 24 runs in Trinidad to help bowl out England for 46 runs in the 1993-1994 series. And no one can forget how he partnered Courtney Walsh to stun South Africa in 1991 at Bridgetown, Barbados during the latter’s return to Test cricket, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Then the best fast bowler that ever lived, Malcolm Marshall, demolished England at Headingly with a broken thumb and his left wrist in cast. They referred to him as the “one arm bandit”; and Tony Cozier agreed with me when I said that the best display of fast bowling ever seen was at Bourda in 1991, when Marshall bowled Border a few runs short of 50, after a stubborn partnership with Geoff Marsh.
But what I saw in the early hours of Sunday morning, during the day-and-night Test match played with the pink ball at the GABBA in Brisbane Australia, between a young West Indies team verses Australia, the World’s #1 Test team, will forever be etched in my memory and be regarded as the best ever performance by a West Indian fast bowler.
Shamar Joseph, in only his second Test match, with a damaged toe and in obvious pain, bowled 11.5 overs and literally obliterated the Australian batting with figures of 7 wickets for 59 runs; and essentially ended a 27-year drought of West Indies winning a Test match in Australia. The result was that West Indies successfully defended 216 runs and won by 8 runs, which shocked the Australian public and the entire cricketing world.
After that Starc toe cruncher in the first innings, like most individuals, I had written Joseph off, and had little or no hope of West Indies successfully defending that total. But, like a true warrior, Shamar Joseph demonstrated tremendous grit, determination, self-belief and testicular fortitude, and used his young but experienced cricketing brain to do the impossible.
When I saw him for the first time in the 2023 CPL at Providence, I was impressed with his action, among other things, but felt that he needed a few seasons to be ready for the big time. I am glad that I was wrong, and I look forward to the day when I will be sitting in the stands of the Shamar Joseph Cricket Stadium at Palmyra, Berbice to see him destroy teams for the West Indies.
Yours truly
Eric Whaul
