Who Is Shamar Joseph? The West Indies Pacer Who Dismissed Steve Smith On Debut

image-lrhnuucnShamar Joseph (X.com)

West Indies' newest fast bowling sensation, Shamar Joseph, took the cricket fraternity by storm after dismissing Australian great Steve Smith on his very first delivery in international cricket. Let's dwell on the young gun's humble beginnings, which are rooted in a remote village in Guyana.

Shamar Joseph was one of the three debutants who featured in the West Indies final XI for the first Test against Australia scheduled at Adelaide. 

Joseph, who made waves by claiming 12 wickets during West Indies A's tour of South Africa, earned a much-deserved call-up for the big series. And to everyone's surprise, the fast bowler exceeded all expectations and raised the bar on day 1 of his Test career.

On his very first delivery of international cricket, Shamar Joseph caught big fish Steve Smith and sent him packing in the ninth over of the first innings. 

He bowled a conventional good-length delivery. However, the batter, who was opening the innings for the first time in Tests,  was deceived by pace. He scuffled across to defend but ended up getting a thick outside edge, which went straight to Justin Greaves at second slip.

Needless to say, the debutant was ecstatic and completed a celebratory run to soak in his remarkable achievement. Shamar Joseph is now the only 23rd bowler to have clipped a wicket off first delivery in Tests and second cricketer to unlock the milestone in West Indies' history.


Everything you need to know about Shamar Joseph

Shamar Joseph hails from a remote village called Baracara, situated in Guyana, which is only accessible via a two-day boat trip through the Canje River. He grew up in an extended family of five brothers and three sisters. However, the pacer endured a tough upbringing. 

For most of his life, Shamar was deprived of basic amenities such as telephone or internet services. Yet, he found solace in cricket. Joseph's first adventure in cricket began with a tape ball.

However, the pacer had trouble pursuing his passion due to family responsibilities. Joseph was forced to work as a bodyguard to provide for his family, which includes a 2-year-old kid. While Shamar tried to make peace with the circumstances, his love for cricket drove him to take a bold step. He quit his job to pursue cricket full-time, and the rest is history.

Shamar played first-class cricket for Guyana Harpy Eagles in February 2023 and picked nine wickets in a mere three games. 

The staggering performance helped him transition into CPL and then toward the ultimate dream of playing international cricket. 

Having said that, Shamar Joseph's hardships and honest hard work at bore results as the pacer ended up as West Indies hero on the first day of the Adelaide Test. Needless to say, this is just the beginning, as Joseph is set on a path to achieve great things for his beloved nation.