Josh Hazlewood heaped praise on Shamar Joseph for making a ‘dream debut’ in the opening Test between West Indies and Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
Joseph made his debut in the Test along with Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves. On his very first ball, the speedster got the prized wicket of Steve Smith, who was opening the batting.
Smith, who replaced David Warner as Australia’s new Test opener, found a thick outside edge and Justin Greaves at third slip took a sharp catch.
“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.
Joseph also went on to finish with impressive figures of 20-2-94-5 in the first innings. In the second innings, the pacer hit Usman Khawaja on the helmet, after which the latter had to walk off ‘retired hurt’.
Smith got out after scoring 12 runs off 26 balls in the first innings and failed to make an impact on his maiden appearance as a Test opener. Hazlewood admitted that Smith had butterflies in his stomach.
“Smithy was a bit nervous, but he was good. Think he struggles in the quick ten-minute change but all good,” he said.
It took Australia just over two days to beat West Indies by 10 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series. In the first session on Day 3, Hazlewood picked up a five-wicket haul as the hosts bowled Kraigg Brathwaite and Co. out for 120 in their second innings.
“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.
The second Test is scheduled to start on Thursday, January 25 at The Gabba in Brisbane.
