West Indies defeats Australia in Brisbane Test, secures victory by eight runs

Injured speed bowler Shamar Joseph delivered a brilliant stretch of fast bowling to lead his team to one of the greatest upsets in Test history, defeating Australia by eight runs on January 28 in Brisbane. The West Indies, who sent an understrength team to Australia for the Test series, made four debuts, including Joseph, in the two games.

They were defeated in three days in Adelaide last week and were anticipated to meet a similar fate in the day-night Test in Brisbane. However, after bowling Australia out for 207 in the second session on Sunday, the West Indies secured their first victory in Australia since 1997 in Perth.

Shamar Joseph, despite having a damaged toe, dominated Australia in the second Test. Shamar annihilated Josh Hazlewood in the 50th over, stunning the hosts in their backyard. The West Indies’ first victory over Australia in 20 back-to-back Tests was made possible by Joseph’s stunning numbers. Joseph took seven wickets in 11.5 overs to lead the Windies to an eight-run victory over Australia in the pink-ball Test.

Australia entered the fourth day of play at 60-2, chasing 216 for victory, and with Steve Smith and Cameron Green at the bat, they were heavy favourites.

At the supper break on Sunday, Australia was 187-8, with Steve Smith undefeated on 76 and looking like the key to victory for the hosts, who had lost six wickets in the opening session. Nathan Lyon was not out on five, leaving just Josh Hazlewood to bat for Australia. After being helped off the ground with what appeared to be a severely wounded toe from a searing Mitchell Starc yorker on the final ball of the West Indies’ second innings on Saturday, Joseph came back with a stunning spell of lightning-fast bowling to revive the tourists’ hopes of a famous test victory over Australia.

Joseph, who had been sent to the hospital for scans, had recovered enough by day four to bowl over Cameron Green (42) and Travis Head, who made a king pair, in consecutive deliveries, keeping West Indies’ hopes alive. Mitchell Marsh (10) was the next to fall, juggled between the slip fielders, and Alex Carey (2) soon had his stumps rocked as the 24-year-old’s afternoon spree continued. Resuming from 33 overnight, Smith continued to accumulate as Starc went for aggressiveness, hitting a 14-ball 21 before gifting debutant Kevin Sinclair at backward point with his third catch of the game.

Cummins, caught behind, scored two runs before becoming Joseph’s sixth victim in a ferocious 11-over session that reduced the hosts to 187-8 at the main break. Alzarri Joseph (2-62) caught Nathan Lyon’s (9) bottom-edge one ball after spilling a caught-and-bowled opportunity, leaving Australia nine down and down by 21, prompting Smith to boost the ante with a six over fine leg, but the hosts fell just short.

Pat Cummins: “Obvious disappointment after a loss but that was a fantastic Test match and a fantastic series. I thought in particular, Shamar, the way he bowled today, he was right up for it and unfortunately we weren’t good enough. I think we were pretty confident coming into today. I thought our efforts yesterday were really good to try and chase 200-odd. I thought it was achievable. But yeah they had different ideas. They bowled beautifully and unfortunately just a bridge too far. I don’t think we’re surprised. We’ve seen it for 15 years from Smithy. He was fantastic. Almost dragged us over the line singlehandedly at the end. We’ve all played enough cricket to know this game humbles you pretty quickly even if you think you’re on top of the world. You start from 0 for 0 at each game. I thought West Indies were fantastic. They outplayed us this week. Sometimes you always learn the lessons the hard way. Our Test group get about a month off before we go over to New Zealand. Any away tour is going to be tough. Looking forward to that one.”

Kraigg Brathwaite: “We won a Test match in Australia. It does a lot for West Indies cricket. It means a lot. It’s been a number of years since we’ve won a Test match here. But my message to the group is that this is the beginning. It’s amazing, we enjoy this, but this has to continue. I’m extremely proud. I must say we had two words that inspired us in this Test match. Mr. Rodney Hogg said that we were ‘pathetic and hopeless’. That was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him ask him, are these muscles big enough for him [Shows his biceps]. I knew I had Shamar probably an hour before play. The doctor said he got an injection and he’s quite good and then he told me he’s going to do it. I had to back him. He’s a superstar and I know he’ll do great things for West Indies in the future. Just his belief. It’s a great example for this team to follow. As I said, this is the beginning. We have to continue and play with heart and keep fighting for West Indies. I would love more Test cricket for sure.”

Player of the match and series is Shamar Joseph: “I just want to shout out my teammates for their encouragement. I want to keep pushing through the pain for my team and the people of the Caribbean. The doctor called me this morning and he asked he how I’m feeling and I said I was in a lot of pain. He told me to come to the ground and he believed I could do it. When I took my five-for it was tears of joy and happiness.”

Australia XI: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva, Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph