West Indian cricket legends Brian Lara and Carl Hooper were in tears while commentating on the final moments of the day-night Test between West Indies and Australia at the Gabba, which ended with the visitors winning their first match in Australia in 27 years.
West Indies had not beaten Australia in a Test match since it won by 10 wickets at WACA in 1997.
A viral clip on social media shows an emotional Lara, flanked by Adam Gilchrist and Ian Smith, standing up and announcing the incredible win. “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 says.
Another clip shows Hooper tearing up and out of words.
The eight-run win for West Indies came thank to Shamar Joseph, who was playing on despite a toe injury to claim 7-68. Joseph had hobbled off the field late on Saturday evening after taking a full-blooded yorker from Mitchell Starc on his toe. Despite that, he touched speeds close to 150 kph (93 mph).
“Shout out for my teammates for their support,” Joseph told broadcasters after the win. “I wasn’t even going to come to the ground today, but the doctor did something to my toe. I don’t know what he did, but it worked. I just stuck to the basics. I feel like we win the entire series by winning this Test … I cried for my five-wicket haul but I’m so happy now. I’m not even tired. I would have kept bowling.”
Thanks to the win, West Indies managed to level the two-match series 1-1. The hosts had won the first Test by 10 wickets inside three days at Adelaide, where the 24-year-old Joseph had been handed his debut.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins couldn’t help but marvel at Joseph’s bowling.
“Obvious disappointment after a loss but that was a fantastic Test match and a fantastic series,” Cummins said. “I thought in particular, Shamar, the way he bowled today, he was right up for it and unfortunately we weren’t good enough. I thought West Indies were fantastic. They outplayed us this week. Sometimes you always learn the lessons the hard way.”
How Rodney Hogg’s criticism fired up Windies
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said his teammates got pumped up by former Australian cricketer Rodney Hogg’s criticism, heading into the Gabba Test.
“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 that was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him, are these muscles big enough for him?” Brathwaite said.
(The Indian Express)
