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A hero’s welcome!
Kaieteur News – It was so pleasing to see the grand welcome that was put on for the West Indies latest fast bowling find, Shamar Joseph. The young cricketer is creating waves on and off the field.
It is hard to imagine a local cricketer being given such a rousing welcome upon his return to Guyana. The only memory that springs to mind was when West Indies won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975. What was even more amazing about the hero’s welcome was that he has only just completed his second Test Match. And in his first Test series as rookie he was named Man of the Series against a very formidable Australian team.
Now, that alone deserves a hero’s welcome. But you can add to that, that Shamar holds the fourth best figures in a Test innings by a Guyanese. His 7 for 68 has only been bested by Colin Croft’s 8-29 (also in his second Test) in 1977; Lance Gibbs’s 8-38 in 1962; and Gudakesh Motie’s 7-37, one year ago. Motie was not given that sort of hero’s welcome but that may have to do more with the manner in which Shamar took those wickets – bowling at top-gun speed. Shamar’s speed has certainly created excitement throughout the West Indies more so because top class Australian batsmen were genuinely beaten for pace.
He was responsible for West Indies team crafting a remarkable comeback victory to level the Test series. It was also the first time the West Indies had won in Australia in 27 years. Shamar’s performance is even more sensational considering his inexperience. Not only has he only played 2 Test matches, but prior to that only had limited first class experience. To have been picked for the West Indies A team’s tour to South Africa late last year suggests strongly that his someone in the West Indies saw something that the selectors in Guyana may not have seen.
Whatever was seen was good enough for him to be picked for the West Indies A team to South Africa. In that series he was the leading West Indian wicket taker with 12 wickets which was second overall for both teams. His performance on that tour would have helped to push him into the West Indies squad to tour Australia.
He did not play in the first unofficial Test but picked in the second he grabbed his chance and took four wickets. In the third and final unofficial Test he snared an amazing 8 wicket. He is now a bowler on demand. It is likely that he is going to earn a great deal of money in franchise cricket. But his cricket days are still early and he needs to be carefully handled.
He should no longer have any worries about making the Guyana team. He is now an automatic choice for the local team. It has already been highlighted that he could not have even made the first cut in the Guyana team for last year’s Super 50 Cup. He was belatedly added as a reserve substitute following an injury to Ronsford Beaton. He seems to have a lucky streak because he was added to the Guyana’s CPL squad after being used as a bowler in the nets. Someone again saw the promise.
Officials for the Guyana Cricket Board officials were on hand to welcome him and to say how proud they were of his performance. But they have questions to answer about his initial omission from the local squad.
One former West Indies player has said that the first time he saw Shamara Joseph bowl was in the nets alongside another Berbician fast bowler, Sylus Tyndall. The former West Indian player was wondering also how Tyndall is not yet in the Guyana team. We can only wish the best for this young professional. He should be supported throughout his career. There will come a time when instead of 7-68 he will bag 0 for 68 and this is when he will need the most support from his many fans. We should not only support our players when the going is good but also when they go bad – as they are bound to do at some time or the other.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)
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