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‘Shamar Joseph A Rare Talent’ - Steve Smith Praises Speedster Ahead Of AUS vs WI 1st ODI

image-ls2v6lqpShamar Joseph celebrating an Australian wicket with teammates (AP)

Modern-day batting legend Steve Smith helplessly stood at the other end of the crease as Shamar Joseph kept ticking off his Australian teammates to secure a historic Test win for West Indies.

The young fast bowler, with bandages on his injured toe and his heart up his sleeve, demolished the reigning World Test Champions in their own backyard while playing only the second Test match of his career.

Joseph’s match-defining spell at The Gabba also seems to have won over Steve Smith, as the legendary Australian batsman recently lavished a significant praise on the young prodigious bowling talent.

Steve Smith says Joseph’s spell “great for cricket”

Shamar Joseph collected seven Australian wickets on Day 4 of the series-deciding Test match to script an eight-run win for the West Indies. His match-defining spell helped the visiting troops to secure their first Test win in Australia in nearly three decades, and also brought a welcome fervour to the nation’s rather disappointing cricketing ventures in recent times.

As both Australia and West Indies gear up for the ODI segment of the latter’s tour, hosts’ stand-in captain and modern-day legend Steve Smith hailed the young paceman for his conjuring spell at The Gabba last week. While speaking with the ESPNCricinfo a day prior to the ODI series opener, Smith said:

“Shamar Joseph is a rare talent - it's great for cricket what he was able to do & see the West Indies competing as they did - he just kept coming in & probably bowled faster at the end.”

While Shamar Joseph will soon visit Pakistan for the forthcoming PSL 2024 season, Steve Smith will stand-in for regular captain Pat Cummins for the ODI series against West Indies.

The first ODI of the three-match series between the two countries will be played on February 2 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).