Shamar Joseph claimed seven wickets to pull off one of the greatest Test wins of the modern era, West Indies beating Australia by eight runs at the Gabba.
The final day dawned finely poised, Australia 60-2 needing 156 more runs for victory.
Shamar Joseph and Steve Smith were the two stars of the final day. Smith, yet to make a significant contribution in his new role as Test opener was the only batter to pass fifty, holding firm as Australia lost wickets at the other end.
Joseph, meanwhile, was a sensation. He had claimed five-for on Test debut in the first game of the series, but it looked as if his series had ended prematurely when he limped off the field retired hurt at the end of West Indies’ second innings. He had been hit flush on the front of the toe by a Mitchell Starc yorker, with blood visible as he removed his boot.
Instead, he returned to the field and delivered a spell that will go down in the history books. Bowling with pace, verve and skill, he brought West Indies back into the game with two wickets in two balls. Australia had been cruising at 113-2 but lost Cameron Green and Travis Head to put a dent in their chances.
Green was bowled off his elbow, while Head was castled by a searing yorker. The dismissal extended Head’s poor run at the Gabba – he has been dismissed by his last four balls faced at the venue, making a golden duck in the second innings against South Africa in 2022 and a king pair in this game.
The winning moment at the Gabba! Jubilation for Shamar Joseph and West Indies. #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/DSfudKE8EN
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 28, 2024
Mitchell Marsh nicked off while Carey was also bowled by a full ball. Starc counterattacked, but Joseph saw off him and Pat Cummins in the space of two overs to leave Australia eight down.
West Indies chose to delay the lunch break but to no avail as Nathan Lyon held firm. However, the other Joseph, Alzarri, struck in the first over after the interval, with the No.10 nicking off, bringing Josh Hazlewood to the crease. Shamar Joseph, heroically, continued his spell after the break, and almost had Smith, the ball rising off the shoulder of the bat but just evading the fielder.
Smith sensed his chance, scooping for six and reducing the deficit to eight runs, but Joseph had the final say, bowling Hazlewood and tearing away, his celebratory run only coming to an end when he was outside the boundary rope. He finished with seven wickets in a 12-over spell broken only by lunch, having secured West Indies first Test win in Australia this century.
