Australian captain Pat Cummins praises Gabba hero Shamar Joseph, acknowledging the 24-year-old’s outstanding performance during the pink ball Test on Day 4. Cummins commends Joseph’s remarkable bowling spell, stating that he “bowled the house down.” Despite enduring a sleepless night due to a toe injury inflicted by a Mitchell Starc yorker, Joseph showcased resilience and talent, claiming figures of 7-68 as the hosts succumbed to an eight-run defeat in Brisbane on Sunday. Despite having made his professional debut less than a year ago, Joseph consistently bowled at speeds nearing 150km/h, causing trouble for the Australian team, who could only admire his skill. This performance follows Joseph’s five-wicket haul in his Adelaide debut, where he dismissed Steve Smith with his first ball.
“In the post-match presentation, Pat Cummins remarked, ‘We all debuted at one point. He is starting his Test cricket and he has had a hell of a start. He is very excited, and he should be excited for a long time after such a performance. It’s great to see young talent like that. He bowled the house down.’ Cummins acknowledged the exceptional debut of Shamar Joseph, expressing admiration for his enthusiasm and skill. Reflecting on the match, Cummins added, ‘They outplayed us, they played brilliantly.'”
“There was much talk surrounding their debutants prior to the match… but they’ve unearthed a couple of new superstars we weren’t aware of. As a fan of Test cricket, there’s a part of me that was delighted to witness it.”
The duo also exchanged jerseys, with Cummins sharing the moment on Instagram alongside the caption: “Helluva debut series @shamarjoseph7. Already a superstar, well played.”
From a strong position of 2-113, they suffered a collapse, losing 8-94. Cameron Green (42), Travis Head (0), Mitchell Marsh (10), Alex Carey (2), Mitchell Starc (21), and Pat Cummins (2) fell victim to an incredible 10-over spell in the first session.
Cummins praised Joseph’s resilience in bowling a long spell despite taking a heavy blow to the toe from a crushing yorker by Mitchell Starc. “He had taken a big blow last night, but he was determined to continue bowling. That’s just raw passion, someone who’s focused on bowling fast and taking wickets. As cricket fans, it’s fantastic to witness,” Cummins remarked.
“Consistently hitting speeds in the high 140s, he mixed up his deliveries, consistently pitching it up and interspersing it with short ones. I’m certain we’ll be seeing a lot more of him,” Cummins added.
