Published: Jan 29, 2024, 10:22 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 29, 2024, 10:22 AM (IST)
With a thrilling victory over Australia at the Gabba on Monday, the West Indies captivated the attention of the cricket world. Even with players like Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers absent from the team, a youthful West Indies team full of inexperienced players defeated the current world Test champions by eight runs at their own stadium.
Even some Australian cricket fans embraced the win, recalling the days when the West Indies ruled the global series. On social media and other channels, a few people who were a part of those sides and some of the greats who happened to play during the unfortunately declining West Indies era shared their satisfaction.
Batting great and former captain Brian Lara was part of the Fox Cricket commentary panel when Shamar Joseph took the last Australian wicket and he was in tears as the West Indies celebrated. “It’s unbelievable. 27 years to beat Australia in Australia. Young, inexperienced, written off… this West Indies team and West Indies cricket can stand tall today. Today is a big day for West Indies cricket,” he said.
Both Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, who went on to have great careers as Test players and West Indies leaders before becoming trailblazing T20 players, expressed their joy on Instagram as well. Former West Indies white ball captains Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard also responded to the historic event. Tagging Joseph, Pooran said, “What a day. Unreal Stuff” on Instagram. “Team Work. Congratulations all,” said Pollard on his Instagram page.
Early on day four of the day-night second test, Australia was comfortably on their way to victory at 216. However, an injured Joseph, playing in his first test series, came to the field and stunned the world champions with an explosive display of fast bowling. The 24-year-old saved his best for last, sprinting across the Gabba outfield and pumping his chest in celebration with his teammates after uprooting tailender Josh Hazlewood (0). The victory comes at a time when West Indies cricket is otherwise at an all-time low, having missed out on qualifying for the 50-over World Cup in 2023. Joseph, a native of Guyana, who famously got Smith caught in Adelaide off his opening ball in a test match, has been signed by Dubai Capitals for the International League T20 tournament.
