MATCH STORIES
Follow UsMost bowlers would be delighted to simply dismiss Steve Smith at any point in their career. Any debutant would be over the moon to get Smith in his first-ever Test.
But how about dismissing THE STEVE SMITH on your FIRST-EVER BALL in international cricket?
That is precisely what Shamar Joseph did at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday (January 17th) as the 24-year-old, playing his first-ever Test, got the huge wicket of Smith immediately after he was introduced into the attack by Kraigg Brathwaite.
Smith, opening for the first time in his Test career, had made a bright start and looked solid, getting to 12 off his first 25 balls. He even got a couple of pull shots away and looked as assured as ever.
The veteran was largely untroubled and had a control percentage of 92% across his first 25 balls. He barely put a foot wrong.
However, just when it looked like he was set for a good score, Joseph, on his very first ball, did him with an extremely pacy delivery on the fifth stump. Smith moved across his stumps and could actually have easily let the ball go, but the extra pace - and the perfect length - forced him to fend at the ball. And he paid the price as he nicked the ball to another debutant, Justin Greaves, who took a fine low catch at third slip.
Joseph was absolutely pumped after the breakthrough, and understandably so. Smith, meanwhile, could do nothing but acknowledge the fact that he was fully undone by a fired-up young man who bowled a perfect ball.
This moment further adds to the already-growing legend of Joseph, who entered this Test with just five first-class matches under his belt. Joseph, who once worked as a security guard, had not played any professional cricket until six months ago.
He was a net bowler for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) last year and got a surprise call-up after impressing a host of people through his bowling in the nets. His career kicked on from there as he played two CPL matches and then soon debuted in both List A cricket and first-class cricket.
A raw talent, Joseph’s rise has been stupendous, and he’s already left a mark on his very first international appearance.
Earlier in the day, meanwhile, the 24-year-old punished Australia with the bat. At 133/9, West Indies were staring at an embarrassingly low total, but Joseph, walking in at No.11, smashed a 41-ball 36 that kind of took the hosts aback.
His knock featured three fours and one huge six, which came off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, the best Australian bowler on Day 1, where he looked more assured than a host of Windies' batters.
