West Indies paceman Shamar Joseph had Brian Lara's phone ringing off the hook and Carl Hooper in tears after bowling his team to an epic eight-run win over Australia in the Gabba Test.
His spell of 7-68, less than 24 hours after being smashed on the big toe by a Mitchell Starc yorker, had Lara hailing him as "a champion" and Hooper crying in the ABC commentary box.
"Shamar Joseph has lit up West Indies cricket. It is a great feeling to be a West Indian," Lara said.
It's all over!!! — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) Shamar Joseph takes SEVEN #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/fsGR6cjvkjJanuary 28, 2024
That the 24-year-old was on the field at all spoke volumes for his commitment and courage after Joseph had retired hurt and limped from the field on the third evening when he was smashed on his right big toe by Starc.
Joseph was cleared of a fracture and did not take the field initially on the fourth morning despite warming up with the West Indies squad before play.
His entry to the bowling crease changed the Test match, after taking five wickets on debut in Adelaide to announce himself as one of West Indies' brightest hopes in Test cricket.
"What a champion. Eighteen months ago he was not even on the scene," Lara enthused on Fox Cricket.
Joseph bowled Cameron Green (42) and then yorked Travis Head next ball on the fourth day to ensure the No.5 for Australia bagged a king pair for the Test.
Travis Head is clean bowled first ball by Shamar Joseph en route to a shock West Indies Test win. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
He then had Mitch Marsh (10) caught in the slips and bowled Alex Carey (two), but he was just warming up at that point.
Joseph snared Mitchell Starc (21) skying a heave to cover and had skipper Pat Cummins (two) caught behind.
The man from Guyana was limping while moving around the field as the injury to his toe started to take its toll, but he was not daunted.
After bowling 10 overs straight before tea, Joseph came back out after the break and delivered the knockout punch by bowling Josh Hazlewood with a rip snorter.