What did Shamar Joseph tell West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite before his horic 7-fer in Gabba: ‘I’m not putting down this ball until the last wicket falls’ | Cricket News

Shamar Joseph was struck with a fierce toe-crushing yorker from Mitchell Starc on Saturday during the pink-ball Test against Australia in Brisbane.
A blow that saw Joseph’s teammates carry him – retired out – off the field as the West Indies innings was cut short. Having made his debut only last week, Joseph had been the Windies’ big spark with the ball in the ongoing series, clinching a 5-fer on his debut. With Australia still having eight wickets in hand, Joseph would return to action the next day with the ball, snapping seven wickets to see through a first Test win for the Windies down under in 27 years.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Joseph revealed the conversation that took place between him and the West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite ahead of Sunday’s action.

“Having a captain like that, who doesn’t know much about you and has only watched you play first class cricket, who could believe in you….all I said to him was give me the ball. I was telling the players, I’m not coming off. So even if he wanted me to come off or not, didn’t matter. I just wanted to make him proud and happy and I think I did,” Joseph said.
Brathwaite would also laud the 24-year-old for his antics. “Just from speaking to him, I knew he was special. He told me I’m not putting down this ball until the last wicket falls.”

It’s all over!!!
Shamar Joseph takes SEVEN #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/fsGR6cjvkj
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2024
With the win, West Indies became only the second team to beat Australia in a Test match at the Gabba since 1988. A win that was sealed when Joseph cleaned up Josh Hazlewood coming round the wicket. His seventh wicket in the innings.
When asked to recollect his thoughts in the winning moments, Joseph conceded, “I can’t remember anything. All I can remember is that I just ran all the way to the boundary and all of my teammates were behind me.”

The ecstatic pacer went on to assure that despite the talk around diminishing interests from the players in the longest format, it remained a priority for him.
“I will always be available to play for the West Indies, doesn’t matter how much money comes towards me. I will always be here to play Test cricket,” he said.