The West Indian fast bowling sensation, who shot to fame during his debut Test series against Australia earlier this year, was given an IPL debut during Lucknow Super Giants’ away game against KKR at the Eden Gardens today (April 14).

Joseph came into the XI to replace Naveen-ul-Haq and was given the first over of the second innings. Defending 161, Joseph started well, with his first ball on a back of length and swinging away from the right-handed Phil Salt.

He was hit for a four by Sunil Narine on the third ball of the over before a short ball on the hips of Salt was clipped straight to the short fine-leg fielder on what should have been the last ball of the over. Instead, it ended up being neither the last ball, nor a wicket. Yash Thakur dropped a relatively simple catch and replays showed that Joseph had overstepped, meaning the catch would not have mattered any way.

10-ball first over

That started a series of extras as chaos ensued for the next few minutes. To avoid getting hit on the free hit, Joseph went for the wide yorker but ended up dishing it too wide. The next ball, he over-corrected as a short ball aimed at the body went sliding down the leg side for five wides.

The next ball was another wide down the leg side. To add to the chaos, it also turned out to be another no ball – though the next ball would have been a free hit anyway, meaning the only effect of the no ball was to add a ball faced to Salt’s tally. Finally, Joseph bowled a legal delivery to close off the 10-ball over, but missed his mark with the yorker, bowling a half-volley instead. Salt needed no second invitation as he thumped it over mid-off for the first six of the innings.

10 balls, 22 runs – a difficult start to life in the IPL for Shamar Joseph 🤕#IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/CIBnxgRzvU

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 14, 2024

The last legal delivery costed Joseph and LSG 14 runs as KKR’s score read 22-0 after the first over. Joseph’s bad start turned even worse when he dropped a catch of Angkrish Raghuvanshi at long leg on the last ball of the second over and parried it over the rope for six.

Joseph then came back for the fifth over of the innings and was on the money this time, conceding just five runs and beating batters with pace and swing in the process. There was more action in his third over, with Salt, who went on to record a half-century, dropped over the rope for six.