"Dream Debut" - Josh Hazlewood Lauds Shamar Joseph Following Australia's 10-Wicket Victory

Veteran Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood lauded West Indies bowler Shamar Joseph for his exceptional performance in the opening Test match. Josh Hazlewood expressed admiration for Shamar Joseph’s start in international cricket, describing it as a “dream debut.”

Shamar Joseph received his maiden Test cap during the series opener at the Adelaide Oval. He, batting at No. 11, scored 36 runs in the West Indies’ first innings. The fast bowler picked up the wicket of ace batter Steve Smith on his first delivery in international cricket.

Joseph went on to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne a few overs later in Australia’s first innings. He dismissed Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. He finished with impressive bowling figures of 5/94 in the first innings.

Amazing Debut – Josh Hazlewood

Speaking after the match, Josh Hazlewood emphasized the significance of Steve Smith being his first wicket in Test cricket.

“Amazing debut, you wanna keep going on that. Smithy first wicket on the first ball in Test cricket, dream debut,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying after the match.

During the second innings, Shamar Joseph hit Usman Khawaja on the helmet, forcing him to leave the field ‘retired hurt.’ Joseph’s delivery hit Khawaja on the helmet as he awkwardly attempted to defend the ball. Khawaja could not continue his innings.

Steve Smith Was A Bit Nervous – Josh Hazlewood

Steve Smith replaced David Warner as Australia’s new opener in Test cricket. However, the right-handed batter failed to make an impact, managing only 12 runs off 26 balls in the first innings. Josh Hazlewood said that Smith was nervous but handled the situation well.

“Smithy was a bit nervous, but he was good. Think he struggles in the quick ten-minute change but all good,” Hazlewood stated.

We Made Use Of The Surface In Both Innings – Josh Hazlewood

The Pat Cummins-led team registered a 10-wicket victory in the first Test of the two-match series, taking an unassailable 1-0 lead. The home team bowled out the opposition for just 188 runs, with Pat Cummins (4/41) and Hazlewood (4/44) each taking four wickets.

Josh Hazlewood noted that Australia’s bowlers capitalized on the pitch conditions in both innings. He mentioned that the current bowling attack would consistently pick up wickets.

“Nice to have a couple of days off. We made use of the surface in both innings. I felt like I bowled just as well in the first half of the summer, without much result. With this attack, I felt it is relentless and someone picks up the wickets,” Hazlewood added.

After securing a substantial 95-run lead, Australia bowled out the Windies for 120 in 35.2 overs. Hazlewood showcased his brilliance with the ball, claiming figures of 5/35. Australia maintained their top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table.

The second and final Test match of the series will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting on Thursday, January 25.

Also read: AUS vs WI: Josh Hazlewood Completes 250 Test Wickets, Pat Cummins Breaks Jason Gillespie’s Record On Day 1