The term “Whispering Death” reminds cricket fans of the great West Indies fast bowler Michael Anthony Holding, the Jamaican legend who was known as the most fearsome and intimidating bowler in world cricket.
If properly nurtured, 19-year-old Guyanese fast bowling sensation Joshua Joseph Jones can see his vast potential propel him to be considered the next “Whispering Death”.
Born on October 11, 1999 in the Suddie Public Hospital on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Jones formerly attended Queenstown Nursery, Queenstown Primary and Cotton Field Secondary schools. Now a tall and
Joshua Jones attempts to bowl a fearsome delivery
well-built athlete with the appearance of a professional wrestler and the structure of a power-lifter, Jones told this reporter in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times Sport: “I have always loved football, but I took up cricket seriously when I was around 13 years old, and have never looked back since.”
This vibrant young athlete is able to generate extreme pace, hitting the wicket hard and creating chances. He is one weapon every captain requires to destroy any team.
At the inter-county level, Jones’s best bowling figures are an aggressive 6-40 against the Guyana under 17 select team. In national colours, Jones has bowled brilliantly in the Regional youth tournaments over the years, but his most spirited bowling performance was against a powerful Jamaica under 19 team, against whom he grabbed 3-19.
Jones was involved in the one-day and three-day formats of the 2018 Regional under 19 tournaments, where, with his express pace, he troubled numerous batsmen, who smelled the leather ball.
Fittingly, Jones admires his countryman Keemo Paul, and his favourite cricketer is South African fast bowling ace Kagiso Rabada. In approximately five years, Jones is hoping to play international cricket, but simultaneously he is striving to become that cricketer who will take the West Indies back to their glory days. Ironically, the teenage fast bowler is hoping the West Indies can again become the most fearsome team with intimidating fast bowlers.
Jones is a once-in-a-generation talent, having represented Guyana in cricket at the under 15 level, and doing so twice at the under 17 level and twice at the under 19 level.
Joshua Jones is inspired and motivated by Otto Christiani, Forbes Daniels and his mother. Each new day is a new opportunity to improve, he says. Jones continuously works to improve his bowling, as fitness is essential in the game of cricket. With the growth and development of his cricket, he is certainly a prospect to keep a lookout for in the future. Essequibo has been known for producing international fast bowlers the likes of Ronsford Beaton and Keemo Paul. Jones is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his countymen, since he represents Essequibo at the Inter-County level, and has played for Guyana youth teams in various Regional cricket tournaments.
Jones also has a passion for athletics, he represented Guyana at throwing the shot put, discus and Javelin. He currently is the junior record holder for shot put in Guyana.
The young speedster enjoys dancehall music and action movies, while chicken fried rice has been his favourite dish.
