Exclusive: Shamar Joseph on how he overcame injury fears and Brian Lara calling him a 'superstar'

West Indies’ Shamar Joseph became an overnight sensation when he took seven wickets on Day four of the second Test against Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba, helping his team clinch a historic win over the Aussies. However, it wasn’t easy for Shamar. The 24-year-old was struck on the toe while batting on Day three courtesy a yorker from Mitchell Starc. But, despite all the struggles with the injury and facing the pain, Shamar would come out strong the next day to put up a splendid performance for the Caribbean side.

So much, so that, even legends Brian Lara and Carl Hooper had tears of joy when Joseph took the final wicket of Josh Hazlewood.

Also read: Who is Shamar Joseph? 

Joseph revealed that Lara in fact came up to him and congratulated him in a manner that Joseph would never forget. Joseph had finished with figures of 7/68 to help the Windies rattle Australia for 207, thereby completing an eight-run win.

“Brian Lara came up to me. He was like, “Ah Shamar, you really don’t know what you did there just now”. In other words, he was just telling me, coming out of nowhere and to do this for the West Indies team, you’re just a superstar. He used a lot of words to me. He was happy, there were tears of joy, he hugged me,” Shamar Joseph told Rupha Ramani during an exclusive interaction on the First Sports show.

Joseph also revealed how Ian Bishop approached him and complimented his performance, while Australia skipper Pat Cummins also congratulated him.

“Ian Bishop also came up and hugged me. The coaches, the entire management team, everyone was just happy. There was just happiness in our dressing room. I went over to their (Australia) side and Pat Cummins, he hugged me, and he complimented me for my incredible spell,” added the youngster.

Also read: How England, West Indies scripted epic wins on Sunday

Joseph revealed how he couldn’t sleep the entire night after suffering the injury. “I was in a lot of pain. I went off, got clean, and put some ice. I tried to get some rest, didn’t get to sleep the entire night. At 3 or 4 O’clock, I got up. My leg was still in a lot of pain. I just went down, got breakfast, came back up.”

However, it was his due to the help from his doctor that helped him overcome the injury and put up a memorable performance.

“Doc checked in on me, how I was feeling. I said I am not well. Doc was like, “why don’t you come to the ground”? I didn’t know what the reason was but hoped for a good reason. So, I told him, no problem. I cannot make it to play but I will still support these guys. So, I went to the ground. Doc came, cleaned my toe, and gave me a few pills. I drank them. Doc struck my toe and said, “you’ll start feeling better”.

Joseph added that he had no intention of playing on the day and did not even have his playing kit with him. “The pain started easing and I just wore my boots, walked around a bit.  To see how I felt. I even went to the ground without my playing kit because my intention wasn’t to play. I eventually borrowed someone else’s kit,” continued Joseph.

The right-arm pacer was pleased with the confidence his team had in him, saying: “It’s amazing that you have a team that believes in you   and has confidence in you. When I went out there with all that pain, I played for my team and my country,” commented the Guyana cricketer.