An Expected Cakewalk
When the West Indies landed on the shores of Australia for a 2 Test Series, the pundits had already pronounced their fate. It was going to be a cakewalk for the Kangaroos, who had been in fine form after the World Cup Triumph and a 3-0 whitewash of the Pakistani Team. The margin of Australian victory was the only talking point. The first test at Adelaide went as per the pronouncements with Australia emerging as comfortable winners. The 2nd Test was to be held at ‘ The Gabba ‘ in Brisbane, the Aussie Fortress, where another piece of history was about to be written.
The Struggling Carribeans
Once the Cricket’s Mightiest, the Calypso Carribeans had hit rock bottom after failing to qualify for the World Cup held in India. Cricket was unthinkable without the West Indies, but the bad news had arrived. The giants of the game were in danger of being subjugated to the category of minnows. The tour Down Under appeared a hopeless one capable of inflicting much more damage than mere experience. But the unthinkable happened.
A Brave Decision
The West Indies Cricket Board took a brave decision and selected a team with more debutants than experienced players. Barring Captain Kraig Brathwaite and Kemar Roach, the squad had young, energetic, fearless go-getters. Though there was a risk of getting badly beaten, the positive part was that these rookies had no previous baggage with them. It was a clean slate on which they had an opportunity to write their own script. Came Gabba, and the brave decision paid rich dividends.
The Young Guns Fire
Joshua Da Silva, Kavem Hodge, Kevin Sinclair, Justin Greaves, Kirk McKenzie and Alik Athanaze stood up against a fiery Australian attack at the Gabba. These unknown West Indian Cricketers fought bravely and held their own. The bowlers too led by the untiring and highly committed Kemar Roach gave headaches to the Australian Batters. The raw pace of Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach and the rookie Shamar Joseph was too hot to handle.
Shamar Joseph
The Unveiling of Shamar Joseph
The match drifted into an interesting phase when Australia needed 216 runs to win the match and the series. The formidable Australian batting lineup was enough for the task, but Shamar Joseph proved it otherwise. Nursing a badly bruised toe, the young Joseph bowled with tremendous pace and accuracy to unsettle the Aussie lineup. The raw, prodigious talent, bowling with great intent got through the defences of the tentative Aussies. Shamar Joseph bowled a ripper to get rid of Travis Head for a first-ball duck, a blow from which the Aussies just could not recover.
An Epic Victory After 27 Years
Steve Smith continued to fight, but then again Shamar Joseph produced a beauty of a delivery to castle Josh Hazelwood. The Aussies had fallen short and the West Indians had scraped home with 8 runs still in their bag. The last wicket sent the West Indian players into a celebratory frenzy. They had beaten Australia after 27 years. The great Brian Lara and Carl Hooper could not hold back their tears. It was a phenomenal moment. Shamar Joseph from Baracara in Guyana, in just his second Test Match had breathed life into West Indian Cricket.
The West Indians are alive again and are not going anywhere for sure. A spark in Shamar Joseph and a host of young performers has lit the path forward for the Carribeans. Beware of them as they host the T20 World Cup this year.
Calypso Kings Re-Born !!
Read Quick, Read Better @ rizkhan.in
Riz Khan’s blog on the West Indies cricketing teams of yore brings to mind such bowling stalwarts as Hall, Griffith,5 Holding , Marshal, Ambrose, Gibbs, Ramadhin and a host of other speedsters and spinners. Similarly, among the famed batters who cannot but reminisce on the exploits of Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Viv Richards, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle.
The present West Indian squad now playing in Australia has done well to show there is still talent, grit and fight that was the hallmark of their past glory. Sure enough this write-up by Riz Khan could be a prelude to some fantastic upcoming performances from the Caribbean team.
Bulls Eye. Really appreciate.