Adelaide, Jan 20: Though West Indies lost to Australia by ten wickets in the Test series opener at the Adelaide Oval, captain Kraigg Brathwaite heaped rich praise on fast-bowler Shamar Joseph, who put up a bright all-round performance in his debut match in the format.
Joseph became just the 14th player in the history of Tests, and the first from the West Indies, to take a five-wicket haul on debut, including taking Steve Smith out on his first ball in the format. With the bat, he made 36 and 15 as a number eleven batter in both innings of West Indies’ batting.
“(Joseph’s) belief is amazing. If all the guys could have that that’d be great. But he’s obviously a special, special guy and he gave a lot of confidence to the team as well when you see him playing his shots and for the batters I just want them to go out there and enjoy.”
“It’s a great start to his international career and he has a bright future for the West Indies. I wasn’t surprised. I really believe he’s something special and I was very happy for him,” said Brathwaite after the match ended.
Apart from Joseph, Kirk McKenzie made his maiden Test half-century in just his second match in the format. “It shows them that they can do it. Kirk got a 50 and 20-odd (26) in the second (innings). So it shows that he has the ability to score runs against world-class bowlers. The other guys didn’t get runs but from watching Kirk they know now that we could get it done.”
“Because it’s all mental. We played some shots where I believe the shot was on but we edged it. So whether it was nerves, obviously a little poor execution, but I think it could give the batters confidence to know that they could do it.”