Sam Eyers

Sadly for Australia, the women’s international test summer only consisted of one match against India. Captain Alyssa Healy has pointed out this flaw and called for a change in the number of white-ball cricket games that are played now, compared to the dying test cricket.

The test started on the 21st of December and ended on the 24th. The Aussies won the toss and elected to bat first, as you do, and started catastrophically with a diamond duck on the 6th ball of the match! Beth Mooney, who went on to make a fine knock of 40, was caught on a good ball outside off. She fished it away, and she was called to run by Phoebe Litchfield. There was, however, a great mix in the middle of the pitch that led to Litchfield’s dismissal. Perry was in next. She guided her ball beautifully to the boundary before being bowled to the middle stump 2nd ball by Pooja Vastrakar. Tahlia McGrath put on a glorious show with her 50 of 56 balls while the rest of Australia muddled their way to 219 all out.

Australia also nailed their way to 4–206 and looked like they were going to set a competitive total before a collapse of the middle and lower order sent them to finish off all out for 26.

There was little hope for Australia defending 75 runs, but Kim Garth eliminated Shafali Verma on the fourth ball of the innings. Yet, it was not to be for the Aussies, as India chased this while only losing one more wicket.

The Australian Summer of Men’s Cricket, usually a close battle between two titans, was this year, built of four not-so-thrilling test matches and one for the ages. It all started with Pakistan.

If you watch test cricket a lot, or even if you don’t, you can trust me when I say that the three test matches against Pakistan were the worst matches of cricket I have ever seen. Overall, the Pakistani side was not terrible. They had some brilliant performances, such as Shan Masood (the captain) scoring consecutive fifties at the MCG and Aamir Jamal taking two six-wicket hauls. Yet, the overall quality of the team was not enough to make the tests against Australia interesting. However, David Warner’s final innings were a fine spectacle and an inspiring story of redemption. He came back to grasp the faith of his country and celebrate the end of his test cricket career fantastically. Deservingly, Pat Cummins also managed to find another trophy for the pool room with his player of the series honours.

Now we have the spicy tests. There was a bit of controversy about having a 2-test series as there would be no winner. However, these two tests would eventually grab the hearts of two nations and restore faith in West Indian cricket.

As a bit of a backstory, West Indian cricket has been in the wilderness since the 80’s and 90’s. All their big shots had retired, and they were left with a mediocre cricketing side. This was clear in the first test, as the World Champions (Australia) breezed past them with a 10-wicket win. I would’ve bet $100 that if I asked 1000 people, none would say the Windies would have even a chance to win in Adelaide. Yet, by one man, this was done.

Shamar Joseph. Read that name aloud. It will go down in cricket folklore.

The West Indies were staring down the barrel of a gun. The West Indies had cracked under the Australian heat and fell to all out for 207. Australia was chasing 215 for victory. Usman was the first to go, bowled by Alzarri Joseph (the other Joseph). Then Marnus, and then…

Enter Shamar Joseph. This man had broken his toe the previous evening from a searing yorker from Mitchell Starc. It was bleeding, and he was forced to retire hurt. Shamar didn’t even know he was going to play on that Sunday morning until the doctor called and told him that he was their only hope. So, he strode to the crease and proceeded to eliminate Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head (for a golden duck), Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins. Smith was at the crease in his 70s, with Nathan Lyon at the other end. Alzarri Joseph came to the crease and caught the edge of Gaz’s bat. It was a Joseph mauling!

And so, there was one. Josh Hazelwood, Australia’s last remaining wicket. He and Steve Smith needed 24 runs for victory. Finally, the Australian public had a match of cricket that was worth watching. Steve Smith just went for it, ramping and driving beautifully. In no time, he was on 90. It was the third ball in the Shamar Joseph over. Steve Smith hit it deep, but only for one. To everyone’s surprise, Hazelwood called through the run and had to withstand Joseph. A task the best batsman in the world had failed at. Hazelwood’s’ off stump went flying.

The crowd went silent. Then Joseph took off like that bullet in the gun and raced away. The crowd then cheered for a man who had silenced the critics and humbled Australia. He was a hero.

One man, with a broken toe, had single-handedly taken down the number-one test team in the world. Faith was restored in West Indian cricket.