West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph, who played a crucial role in securing for his team a victory against a formidable Australian batting lineup with his sensational seven-wicket haul in Brisbane only recently, has been ruled out of the International League T20 (ILT20) in the United Arab Emirates due to a toe injury. This injury was sustained from a searing yorker delivered by Mitchell Starc on the third day of the second Australia vs West Indies Test match.
Despite scans revealing no fracture after being struck on the boot by a Mitchell Starc yorker, Shamar Joseph battled through pain on the fourth day to deliver one of the greatest spells in Test history. He claimed 7 for 68, inspiring West Indies to a historic eight-run win against Australia – their first victory on Australian soil since 1997. At the beginning of the day, he had not anticipated featuring in the match until being administered painkillers by the team physio.
As per a ESPN Cricinfo report, he had initially planned to proceed directly to the International League T20 (ILT20) after signing with the Dubai Capitals before the Australia tour. However, due to his foot injury, Shamar Joseph will now return home to focus on recovery before heading to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he is set to play for Peshawar Zalmi.
Shamar Joseph Vows Commitment To Test Cricket Over T20 Format
It's noteworthy that following his outstanding performance at the Gabba, Shamar Joseph made a commitment to always be available for West Indies to play the longest format of the game. He expressed his dedication, stating, "I will always be here to play Test cricket for the West Indies. I am not afraid to say this live. There will be times when T20 might come around and Test cricket will be there … but I will always be available to play for the West Indies no matter how much money comes towards me."