On This Day: Shamar Joseph Takes 7 Wickets as West Indies End 27-Year Test Drought in Australia
On 28 January 2024, the cricketing world witnessed one of the most dramatic and inspiring Test match performances in recent memory. At the iconic Gabba in Brisbane, Shamar Joseph , playing just his second Test match for West Indies and nursing a painful toe injury, produced a sensational fast-bowling masterclass that powered the Windies to a historic Test victory over Australia.
West Indies had already surprised many by securing a slender first-innings lead but still faced a daunting target of 216 on a pitch where Australia have traditionally dominated in Test cricket. By the start of Day Four, the hosts appeared firmly on course for a routine win, cruising comfortably at 113 for 2 in the run chase. However, Joseph rewrote the script in breathtaking fashion.
What followed was fast bowling of the highest order. After being forced off the field the previous evening when Mitchell Starc’s searing short delivery crashed into his toe, Joseph returned despite visible discomfort and initial doubts over his fitness. Showing fierce resolve, he ripped through Australia’s middle order within minutes. Cameron Green and Travis Head fell to successive deliveries, before the right-arm pacer removed Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey in quick succession, dramatically turning the match on its head.
Joseph’s relentless pressure continued into the afternoon session. In a spell that would forever be etched in West Indies folklore, he finished with 7 wickets for 68 runs, the most impactful figures in that match. Steve Smith, left unbeaten on 91, battled bravely, but the visitors simply had too few partners left. With the last ball that decided the game, Joseph bowled Josh Hazlewood, sparking jubilant celebrations from his teammates.
The significance of this Test win cannot be overstated. It marked West Indies’ first Test victory on Australian soil since 1997, ending a 27-year drought and injecting renewed belief into a team striving for revival in the longest format of the game. The result also levelled the two-match Test series, underlining West Indies’ ability to compete with and defeat top-ranked teams away from home.
What made Shamar Joseph’s performance even more extraordinary was the context surrounding it. Not only did he excel despite serious injury concerns, but he achieved this in just his second Test appearance - a remarkable rise for a bowler with limited first-class experience prior to the tour. His courage, raw pace and unwavering persistence earned widespread praise, with fans and experts alike hailing the spell as one of the finest individual efforts in modern Test cricket.
Today, cricket lovers continue to recall this unforgettable day as a celebration of underdog spirit, raw talent and sheer determination. Shamar Joseph’s legendary Gabba spell remains a defining moment - not just for West Indies cricket, but for the enduring spirit of Test cricket itself.
West Indies had already surprised many by securing a slender first-innings lead but still faced a daunting target of 216 on a pitch where Australia have traditionally dominated in Test cricket. By the start of Day Four, the hosts appeared firmly on course for a routine win, cruising comfortably at 113 for 2 in the run chase. However, Joseph rewrote the script in breathtaking fashion.
What followed was fast bowling of the highest order. After being forced off the field the previous evening when Mitchell Starc’s searing short delivery crashed into his toe, Joseph returned despite visible discomfort and initial doubts over his fitness. Showing fierce resolve, he ripped through Australia’s middle order within minutes. Cameron Green and Travis Head fell to successive deliveries, before the right-arm pacer removed Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey in quick succession, dramatically turning the match on its head.
Joseph’s relentless pressure continued into the afternoon session. In a spell that would forever be etched in West Indies folklore, he finished with 7 wickets for 68 runs, the most impactful figures in that match. Steve Smith, left unbeaten on 91, battled bravely, but the visitors simply had too few partners left. With the last ball that decided the game, Joseph bowled Josh Hazlewood, sparking jubilant celebrations from his teammates.
The significance of this Test win cannot be overstated. It marked West Indies’ first Test victory on Australian soil since 1997, ending a 27-year drought and injecting renewed belief into a team striving for revival in the longest format of the game. The result also levelled the two-match Test series, underlining West Indies’ ability to compete with and defeat top-ranked teams away from home.
What made Shamar Joseph’s performance even more extraordinary was the context surrounding it. Not only did he excel despite serious injury concerns, but he achieved this in just his second Test appearance - a remarkable rise for a bowler with limited first-class experience prior to the tour. His courage, raw pace and unwavering persistence earned widespread praise, with fans and experts alike hailing the spell as one of the finest individual efforts in modern Test cricket.
Today, cricket lovers continue to recall this unforgettable day as a celebration of underdog spirit, raw talent and sheer determination. Shamar Joseph’s legendary Gabba spell remains a defining moment - not just for West Indies cricket, but for the enduring spirit of Test cricket itself.
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