Debutant Shamar Joseph Gives West Indies Some Hope

Speaking to the reporters about his dream start with the ball, the West Indies debutant didn’t shy away from giving in to his emotions. “I really love Steve Smith, the way he plays and goes about his cricket. And getting Steve Smith, I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. I will actually take a picture and take it home and post it in my house,” Shamar said at the end of Day 1 of the first Test against Australia.

“If I could have run over (the stands), I would have. It was really a joy for me,” he added.

Even before his first day in Test cricket, which also saw him score 36 off 41 in his first innings with the bat, Shamar’s story is worthy to take note of. Born in Baracara, on the banks of the winding Canje River in Guyana and only accessible through a five-hour boat ride, Shamar hadn’t even played a first-class match until February last year. Working 12-hours shift as a security guard, he took a punt on cricket only 18 months back.

“It wasn’t financially stable, but you never miss a meal a day because you go fishing, [and] you plant your greens,” Shamar said. “So starvation wasn’t on our list. But you have to work to maintain yourself and your family. So growing up in Baracara, it’s a beautiful place. You will never suffer in Baracara because there’s always an easy life to make up there.