AUS vs WI | Twitter stunned as phoenix Shamar demolishes World Test champions at Gabba in historic Windies win
A young Shamar Joseph etched his name in the history books at the Australian fortress Gabba to propel the West Indies to perhaps the biggest underdog victory in modern Test history. The Guyanese scalped seven wickets to trigger a Kangaroos collapse and restrict them eight short of the target.
The bookies had Australia at a 99% probability of whitewashing the West Indies ahead of the second Test at the Gabba and while the number had tumbled down to around 60% by the start of Day 4, the hosts remained heavy favorites. The number experienced a significant upward trajectory through the first session on Sunday with incumbent batters Cameron Green and Steve Smith stretching the overnight partnership of 18 past the half-century mark and had their side well positioned at 108/2 an hour into the day's play.
That is when the Windies showed perhaps the first sign of desperation as Shamar Joseph took to the field after having left the field crying with a damaged toe the previous evening courtesy of a Mitchell Starc yorker. The pacer later revealed he was slated to stay back in the hotel and had only been inspired to come to the venue to support his teammates. Kraigg Brathwaite handed the youngster -- on his debut Test tour -- the ball as perhaps one final shot at victory, kicking into progress perhaps the greatest Test upset of the 21st century.
Joseph first removed Green for 42 with a nip backer and then handed Travis Head a king pair with an unplayable yorker. Mitchell Marsh could not handle the heat either, ending a back-of-a-length delivery to slip, and there were no repeat heroics in store for Alex Carey as his bails went cartwheeling with a sharply seaming corker. Mitchell Starc took the daredevil approach to crunch three boundaries off the youngster but inevitably skied one to Kevin Sinclair and skipper Pat Cummins followed suit by edging one to the keeper. The score suddenly read 187/8 with an improbable victory in sight for the Caribbean outfit.
Alzarri Joseph struck immediately after the break to send Nathan Lyon packing, the equation now 25 runs needed and one wicket in hand. However, Smith stood in defiance and switched gears while hogging strike to quickly chip down the remaining runs with flamboyant drives and a flashy ramp. Yet, he chose to trust Josh Hazlewood for two Shamar deliveries with nine runs to get but the right-arm quick needed just one to send the off-stump cartwheeling and secure the first Windies win against Australia since 2003, their first Down Under since 1997 and only a second victory ever at the Gabba.
Carl can't believe it!
What it means to Carl Hooper! @abcsport #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/5TlnhWezRS
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) January 28, 2024
HISTORIC!
WEST INDIES WIN!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 28, 2024
ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN TEST MATCH HISTORY!#AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/V2IYEt3y2P
All over!
It's all over!!!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2024
Shamar Joseph takes SEVEN #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/fsGR6cjvkj
Kings
The 3 Kings…@gilly381 @BrianLara #Smithy
— Mark Howard (@MarkHoward03) January 28, 2024
❤️ test cricket…@FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/rQBxho9z3B
Unbelievable
Unbelievable scenes!! Shamar Joseph!!!!! pic.twitter.com/XdHLUrjKbC
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 28, 2024
Emotions running
Brian Lara in tears. WI must rise again. pic.twitter.com/9PyXt41tI9
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 28, 2024
Hang it!
Honestly, get it Louvre-d https://t.co/PYvTlYvtkT pic.twitter.com/LleiggpWJs
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) January 28, 2024
This is huge
Brian Lara’s Emotions Tells Us All What This Win Meant To West Indies Cricket !#AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/n2dMFwqF3t
— Rahul Choudhary (@Rchoudhary0707) January 28, 2024
Blockbuster
Are you not entertained.
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) January 28, 2024
Fairytale special
The Shamar Joseph fairytale! Special scenes👏
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 28, 2024
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