Image Credit- CA
Shamar Joseph’s ability to play the remainder of the
second Test in Brisbane was called into question after a literal toe-crushing
yorker from Mitchell Starc on the third day. To be exact, on the fourth day he
wasn’t even supposed to be at the ground. But after receiving treatment from
his doctor, he went on to bowl for the rest of his life, capping an incredible
victory at the Gabba.
Starting to bowl in the last hour of the fourth day,
Joseph claimed seven wickets in a stretch that saw him bowl 11.5 overs
continuously, with the exception of the dinner break.
“I wasn’t even coming out to the ground this
morning to be fair. I must give a shout-out to the doctor,” Joseph told
the broadcaster after the game. “He is an amazing doctor to me. He told me
to come to the ground for a reason, even if it’s just to support the
guys.”
“But I came and he did something to my toe. I
don’t know what he did but something worked. So I just had that time to go out
there and bowl and bring this game home for my team.”
Australia needed to score 216 runs, but the West
Indies needed to take eight wickets. Joseph asked his captain, Kraigg
Brathwaite, to play him “till the last wicket falls” as soon as he
entered the attack.
“It was just [about being] positive. That’s all.
[My team-mates] said just go out there and do it – take wickets,” he said.
“It was just our positivity. I am not that tired because I wanted to do
this for my team. I told my skipper I would bowl to the end until the last
wicket falls.
“It doesn’t matter how my toes are, I’m okay. I
did it for him and I am happy that he is proud of me now.”