South Africa vs West Indies: Shamar Joseph show

On day 1 of 2nd Test between South Africa and West Indies, after getting all-out on the score of 97 runs in the first innings, the West Indies team bounced back stronger by making the Proteas team out on the score of 160 runs in just 54 overs with the help of a fast bowler, who has been a rising name in the cricketing world since his debut series against Australia, where he helps the Caribbean team to win end the winning drought of 27 long-years in Australia. On the very first ball of his International career, he took the wicket of Steve Smith in the first Match of the series. With this, he became only the second West Indies bowler to have taken a wicket off the first delivery bowled in test cricket after Tyrell Johnson when he drew Smith to edge it to Justin Greaves.

Shamar Joseph’s journey has been an inspirational one, for every cricketer as the young fast-bowler used to work as a security guard in Guyana before entering the cricketing World. It was West Indies fast bowling legends Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh who inspired him to become a fast bowler, as a young kid, he used to watch their highlights while imitating their actions. Due to lack of facilities he used to bowl with fruits such as lemons, limes, guavas and peaches along with a tape ball, in what was dubbed "jungle-land cricket" in the region.

His hard work paved off when he got picked in the West Indies test squad against Australia for 2 Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane. In his debut match, he took his first five-wicket haul in test cricket and became the tenth cricketer from the West Indies to take a five-wicket haul on test debut.

After his brilliant performance in the opening match of his career, the Guyana-born bowler also became the second bowler in test cricket history after Nathan Lyon to complete the double of having taken a wicket off the first ball in a test career and for having taken five wickets on test debut in maiden innings. With this, he also became the first West Indies player to achieve the unique distinction of scoring over 50 runs and to have taken a five-wicket haul on his test debut. However, the guest lost the first Test by 10 wickets, but Shamar Joseph became a new sensation in the world with his brilliant bowling.

It would not be wrong to say that the West Indies team got great motivation from the first test after giving a tough fight to the Australian cricket team, they entered into the final match of the series, defeating Australia by 8 runs and creating history. In this game, Shamar Joseph continued his brilliant bowling by picking up eight wickets in his second test match against Australia to register their first test win in Australia for 27 years.

For his outstanding bowling performance, he was awarded the Player of the Series award for his bowling performances throughout the series as he picked up 13 wickets. He became the first West Indies player to receive a Player of the Series award in his debut test series and eleventh overall to achieve such a feat.

It was the first time the cricketing world witnessed Shamar Joseph's show, following which he was named as one of the main players for the Caribean team in all formats. 

Shamar Joseph brings back the West Indies to the game

In the second test match, when the home team got out on the score of 97 runs in the final test of the series on day 1 at Providence Stadium in Guyana in front of South Africa's strong bowling line-up of Wiaan Mulder, Rabada and Burger. The right-arm fast bowler made his team back to the game after demolishing South Africa’s batting line-up on the score of 160 runs by picking 5 wickets in his 14 overs of spell, out of which 4 were maiden overs giving just 33 runs.

In his 5 wickets, he picked crucial wickets of Proteas key batters Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbes, captain Bavuma and Wicket-keeper batter Verreyne. Before the start of day 2, the West Indies team are trailed by 63 runs.