Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
Ian Healy has been forced to eat his words about Shamar Joseph immediately after the the fast bowler ripped through Australia’s batting lineup on the first day of the three-match Test series.
Before the opening match, Healy took aim at Joseph after the pacer said to “look out” in a statement aimed at Sam Konstas.
“OK Shamar, well you’ve delivered crap all year,’ Healy said on SEN earlier this week. “So he better improve, that’s what I’m saying. He’s got real trouble. You’re not Curtly Ambrose, champ.
“He’s picked on the 19-year-old (Konstas) again. Shamar’s had a terrible year since he beat us at the Gabba early last year.”
Shamar Joseph rips through Australia after Ian Healy took aim
Joseph was unstoppable on day one, moving the ball both ways at pace to dismantle Australia’s vulnerable batting lineup. The fast bowler dismissed Konstas LBW for three, before having both Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja dropped soon after.
Joseph didn’t have to wait much longer to have the struggling Green caught at slip. He then dismissed Usman Khawaja (47) and Beau Webster (11) in quick succession in the second session to have four of the first five Australian wickets to his name.
Joseph’s performance sent Australia another reminder of his talent after dominating down under back in January 2024. He took 13 wickets at 17.30 in that series, including 7/68 at the Gabba in one of Test cricket’s most memorable spells.
Australia were eventually bowled out for just 180, raising further questions about their strategy to pick who they think are the country’s top six batters no matter where they line up in the order. Khawaja and Travis Head combined for 91 runs before Pat Cummins’ late flurry saw Australia move from 143/8 to 170/9. Jayden Seales finished with 5/60 as he and Joseph (4/46) took nine wickets between them.
Australia responded well with the ball, taking four wickets late to leave West Indies in trouble at 57/4. However, as seen in Australia’s batting struggles in the recent World Test Championship (WTC) Final, West Indies can still cause plenty of damage in the third innings to leave themselves with a manageable chase in the fourth innings.
