The West Indies ace speedster Shamar Joseph is garnering headlines for all the wrong reasons of late. Following the end of the Bridgetown Test, Shamar landed in a fresh controversey as allegations of rape came to light. The pace bowling hero has been accused of rape, sexual assault, harassment and unwanted advances by at least 11 women, including his teen cousin. This groundbreaking news has shaken West Indies cricket to its core.

Although Shamar has not been proven guilty at this stage, if reported to be true, then this could severely jeopardise his promising cricketing career. As per reports, one of his rape victims include his 18-year-old teen cousin who was allegdely raped in his residence in New Amsterdam. Going by the family accounts, Shamar picked her up under the false pretext of socialising and brought her to a house filled with others. He then took her upstairs and committed the heinous act.

In the wake of this shocking development, more women came forward with supporting evidence to prove that Shamar was attempting to put a tight lid on this matter. Back in 2023, Shamar was also arrested on account of sexual assault of a teen relative under the age of consent. The victim withdrew her statement while the case was closed; the charges were not pressed.

See also: West Indies v Australia, First Test: All you need to know

CWI's stance on Shamar Joseph's shocking rape allegations

Shamar's story is an evolving story, and at the moment, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) has declined to make any further comments. But the sudden emergence of these allegations in the midst of a Test match forced the national cricketing board to take action. While responding to SportsMax TV, CWI issued the following statement. 

“Cricket West Indies is unaware of the circumstances and, therefore, is not in a position to comment at this time.”

The second Test is due to take place in Grenada on July 3. It remains unclear whether Shamar will be seen in action for the second Test. A man who gained an unprecedented reputation for firing thunderbolts is now witnessing a possible end to his cricketing career. This shocking news has certainly damaged Shamar's reputation on a global scale, and his departure from the cricketing arena is bound to puncture West Indies cricket as a whole.  

The 1st Test of the Australia tour of the West Indies, played in Bridgetown from June 25-27, 2025, ended with Australia winning a convincing 159-run victory. Australia scored 180 and 310 in their innings, leaving West Indies with a tough task of 301. Although a resilient effort was made by the West Indies, they managed 190 and 141, and were short, as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia 1st Innings – 180/10 (56.5 Overs)

Australia's top order was in trouble as Sam Konstas (3 off 14) went early to Jayden Seales, while Usman Khawaja (47 off 128) was nudged behind to Shai Hope off Shamar Joseph. The top order continued to collapse with Cameron Green (3 off 21) and Josh Inglis (5 off 15) going, leaving the score at 81/4. Travis Head gave a dogged 59 off 78 deliveries with 9 fours, temporarily saving the innings. Pat Cummins contributed 28 off 18 balls, 3 fours, and a six, but the middle order was creaking under pressure. Jayden Seales took 5/60 from 15.5 overs, and Shamar Joseph's 4/46 from 16 overs destroyed the batting. Nathan Lyon was not out on 9 off 17, but the tail wagged limpily to 180. Australia had to depend heavily on their bowlers to defend this modest score.

West Indies 1st Innings – 190/10 (63.2 Overs)

West Indies began badly with Kraigg Brathwaite (4 off 15) and John Campbell (7 off 22) getting out cheaply to Mitchell Starc, leaving them at 10/2. Keacy Carty (20 off 40) and Brandon King (26 off 44) tried to make a comeback, but the top order could not establish a strong partnership. Shai Hope's 48 off 91 balls with 5 fours gave solidity, and Roston Chase's 44 off 108 offered support. Alzarri Joseph (23 off 20) and Jayden Seales (2 off 13) contributed late scoring, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Mitchell Starc registered 3/65, Josh Hazlewood 2/41, and Pat Cummins 2/34, making the most of the conditions. The innings finished on 190, a 10-run lead, laying bare batting weaknesses. This close advantage made the game competitive for the second innings, with bowlers being slightly in favor of the West Indies.

Australia 2nd Innings – 310/10 (81.5 Overs)

Australia's second innings was resilient, with Usman Khawaja (15 from 22) and Sam Konstas (5 from 38) getting out early to Shamar Joseph. Travis Head (61 from 95 with 8 fours) and Beau Webster (63 from 120) formed a vital 100-run stand. Alex Carey's 65 off 75 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, drove the middle order along, while Nathan Lyon was not out on 13 off 27. Shamar Joseph yet again performed, taking 5/87 off 25.5 overs, but Jayden Seales (1/70) could not hold back the tide. The total was 310, making a strong 301-run target. This display of depth and resilience pressured the West Indies’ batting, setting the stage for an intense chase on the final day.

West Indies 2nd Innings – 141/10 (Target: 301) in 33.4 Overs

Chasing 301, West Indies lost Kraigg Brathwaite (4 off 6) and John Campbell (23 off 31) early to Mitchell Starc, slumping to 16/2. Keacy Carty (20 off 36) and Shai Hope (2 off 21) couldn't settle, and the top order collapsed. Shamar Joseph's 44 off 22 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) and Justin Greaves' 38* off 53 put up resistance, but the middle order didn't deliver. Josh Hazlewood's 5/43 from 12 overs and Nathan Lyon's 2/20 from 2.4 overs shut the innings at 141, short by 159 runs. The collapse, losing 8 wickets for 25 runs after 116/2, exposed batting weaknesses. Australia's bowlers controlled the last day, gaining a series lead.

WI vs AUS 1st Test: Key Moments

• Shamar Joseph's Nine-Wicket Haul: Captured 4/46 and 5/87, along with a defiant 44, almost lasting out the game.
• Travis Head's Twin Fifties: 59 and 61 on a difficult pitch won him Player of the Match.
• Josh Hazlewood's Pivotal Spell: 5/43 in the 4th innings sealed the deal on Day 3.
• West Indies' Collapse: 8 wickets lost for 25 runs after 116/2, revealing batting weakness.
• Nathan Lyon's Deciding Touch: 2/20 in the second innings sealed Australia's 159-run victory.

See Also: SL vs BAN 2nd Test: Key moments and Full match highlights

WI vs AUS, 1st Test: Match Scorecard

Australia 1st Innings – 180/10 (56.5 Overs)

West Indies 1st Innings – 190/10 (63.2 Overs)

Australia 2nd Innings – 310/10 (81.5 Overs)

West Indies 2nd Innings – 141/10 (33.4 Overs) (Target: 301)

WATCH: Shamar Joseph’s Magic Ball Knocks Over Beau Webster in First Test

West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph made a big impact on day one of the first Test against Australia in Barbados, helping his team bowl out the visitors for just 180 runs. The highlight of his spell was a brilliant delivery that clean bowled Beau Webster, clipping the top of his off stump. It was the kind of ball fans and experts call a “beauty”-fast”, accurate, and unstoppable.

Joseph finished with four wickets for 46 runs and looked dangerous throughout. He started strong by getting 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas out for just 3 runs. The ball swung back in and hit Konstas on the pad. The umpire said not out at first, but the decision was changed after a review.

 

 

 

 

 

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Joseph later said he had a clear plan against Konstas, who has struggled against balls that come back into him. "It worked perfectly," Joseph said. That weakness had already been seen in the Under-19 World Cup and in domestic games, where Konstas was often dismissed either bowled or lbw.

Australia’s new No.3, Cameron Green, didn’t last long either caught at second slip for three, again off Joseph’s bowling. Josh Inglis, back in the team, also failed to score big and was out for five after mis-hitting a pull shot off Jayden Seales.

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Seales was just as effective, taking five wickets for 60 runs. After the match, he said the West Indies had done their homework on Australia’s new-look batting line-up. “We saw some weaknesses and planned to take advantage of them,” he said, especially pointing out Konstas’ struggles.

With 14 wickets falling in a single day, it was clear the pitch was helping the bowlers. By the end of the day, the West Indies were 57 for 4, making it an even contest so far.

Australian star batter Travis Head survived a scare during the opening day of the ongoing Barbados Test. A highly controversial ruling from the TV umpire left the cricketing world divided. Even after seeing the clear visuals of the ball carrying into the keeper's gloves, the TV umpire ruled in favor of the batting side, thus causing an intense uproar.

The incident came to light during the 46th over of the Australian innings. While facing up to West Indies' Shamar Joseph, Head chased a wide delivery while staying rooted to his crease. Although he did not get the desired connection, the replay, however, confirmed that the ball did make some contact with the cue end of Head's bat.

The West Indies were confident and, after a brief deliberation, opted for a review. Their assumptions were proven right when they saw the visuals on the big screen that suggested a tiny spike as the ball went past the toe-end of the bat. However, South Africa's Adrian Holdstock, who is the designated TV umpire, was not convinced whether the ball settled cleanly into the gloves of Shai Hope. 

Although it appeared that the ball comfortably carried into the gloves of the keeper to the naked eye, Holdstock did not seem very confident and felt that some part of the ball brushed the ground before going into the keeper's gloves.

See also: Australia record their lowest ever Test total against the West Indies in 30 years

Watch the video:

Did Travis Head get lucky? 👀

Shamar Joseph thought he had him, but was it clean? Fair call or a missed chance? 🤔#WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/MKeZe2iRTT

— FanCode (@FanCode) June 25, 2025

Despite the let-off, Head failed to cash in as he could only add six more runs before getting dismissed by Greaves on 59. Head emerged as the highest run-scorer for Australia in the first innings and stood tall while the rest of the Australian batters struggled to get their feet going on a difficult batting surface.

Australia's innings ended right after the Tea interval on day one. With only 180 runs on the board, the Aussie quicks launched a late assault to have West Indies four down for 57 by the end of the day's play. 

England made a stunning comeback in the second Test at Trent Bridge against the West Indies. For the first time in Test cricket history, England scored over 400 runs in both innings of a match.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl first. England scored 416 in their first innings, led by a century from Ollie Pope and other solid contributions. The West Indies then fought back, scoring 457 in their first innings to take a lead.

In response, England scored over 400 runs again in their second innings, reducing the deficit. Centuries from Harry Brook (109) and Joe Root (122) gave England a lead of over 350 runs.

Joe Root’s record-breaking performance at Trent Bridge

Joe Root hit his 32nd Test century, including his sixth against the West Indies and his fifth at Trent Bridge. He reached this milestone in just 260 innings, with only Alastair Cook ahead of him among English players.

Historically, teams have scored over 400 runs in a Test innings 12 times. England has been on the receiving end five times. Australia has done it six times, India three times, and South Africa, Pakistan, and England once each.

Australia achieved this six times between 1924 and 2008. South Africa did it against England in Durban in 1939. India scored over 400 against Pakistan in 2005, Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in 2009, and England in 2024. Pakistan did it against India in Faisalabad in 2006. Recently, England achieved this against the West Indies in the second Test.

Historic achievement for England in Test cricket

England has set a target of 385 runs for the West Indies at Trent Bridge. After being bowled out for 425, England made a remarkable comeback after initially being overtaken by the West Indies’ first innings score. The West Indies need 385 runs to win with one and a half days left.

England sets a challenging target for West Indies

It’s a tough challenge for the West Indies batters. Despite their first Test win, England is still at the bottom of the WTC points table, while the West Indies are sixth. England’s win could move them above South Africa in the standings.

Jayden Seals took 4-97, while Alzarri Joseph claimed 2-103. Shamar Joseph, Jason Holder, and Kevin Sinclair each took a wicket.

Star West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph caused a big scene at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Day 3 of the second Test against England. During the 107th over, Joseph took on England’s young fast bowler Gus Atkinson and hit two powerful shots that were crucial for his team.

Joseph first pulled a delivery from Atkinson over deep mid wicket for a six, then smashed another ball over deep backward square leg for another huge six. The second shot was so well timed that it sailed into the stands and hit the roof of one of the boxes, causing tiles to fall on the crowd below. Fortunately, no fans were injured.

Watch Shamar Joseph’s incredible six

Joseph scored a quick 33 off 27 balls, including five fours and two sixes. He partnered with Joshua Da Silva for the tenth wicket adding 71 runs off 78 balls. Their stand frustrated England as they easily scored against a tired bowling attack.

Their partnership ended just before lunch when Joseph hit a delivery from Mark Wood straight to Gus Atkinson at mid on. Da Silva was left not out on 82, missing a well deserved century as he walked back to the pavilion.

England claims early breakthroughs on day 3

West Indies started their innings at 351/5 with Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva. England struck early when Chris Woakes caught Holder’s edge and Jamie Smith took the catch. Kevin Sinclair followed but was out after scoring 4, caught by Harry Brook.

Woakes continued his good work by dismissing Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales with back-to-back deliveries. West Indies was all out for 457, taking a narrow lead of 41 runs.

England opener Ben Duckett made history with the fastest fifty by an England player in Tests. He achieved this remarkable feat in just 32 balls during the 2nd Test against West Indies at Nottingham, showcasing his exceptional skill and talent.

In the 10th over, Jason Holder bowled a good length delivery. Duckett opened the face of his bat and guided it perfectly past the gully fielder for a boundary. This shot marked his 11th boundary of the innings, bringing up his fifty in style.

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, their cheers echoing throughout the stadium as they celebrated Duckett’s historic achievement.

Duckett eventually got out for 71 runs off 59 balls by Shamar Joseph in the 19th over, with England at 105 for 2. He lost his opening partner, Zak Crawley in the first over when Alzarri Joseph bowled him out for a duck after the West Indies chose to bowl first in Nottingham.

Fastest team fifties in Test cricket by overs

4.2 overs – England vs West Indies (today)

4.3 overs – England vs South Africa in 1994

4.6 overs – England vs Sri Lanka in 2002

5.2 Overs – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in 2004

Fastest Test fifties for England by balls

28 – Ian Botham vs India, 1981

30 – Jonny Bairstow vs New Zealand, 2022

32 – Ben Duckett vs West Indies, 2024

32 – Ian Botham vs New Zealand, 1986

Lucknow Super Giants have made an introduction to their IPL stint with a bang by consecutively qualifying for playoffs two times. After the edition’s auction, we can see the squad’s management get a significant revamp for their coaching staff or add some emerging players.

Primarily, LSG have excellent depth and variety in their all-rounder section for IPL 2024. With the optimal mix of experience and emergent players, here is a list of the top four players from the Lucknow Super Giants team.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has become the face of LSG’s performance thanks to his aggressive batting approach and captaincy. Despite a setback from injury last season, Rahul’s comeback promises to strengthen his team’s batting order. Rahul is in top form after a fantastic performance in the previous World Cup and is ready to continue his momentum in the IPL. With 4163 runs in 118 matches, his ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when necessary makes him an essential asset for the Lucknow Super Giants.

Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran would put on the shoes of the team’s vice-captain position, replacing the prominent Indian all-rounder, Krunal Pandya. The Trinidadian wicketkeeper batter was recognised for his powerful batting and outstanding wicket-keeping abilities. He established himself as a critical character in the worldwide Twenty20 circuit. In his previous edition, he scored 358 runs, including two half-centuries, at an excellent strike rate of 172.94.

See also: IPL 2024: Best Playing XI for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Post Mini Auction

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal, a swanky top-order left-handed batter, made a reshuffle from his previous squad, Rajasthan Royals and with a whooping sum of INR 7.75 Crore, he has entered his third IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. Ever since his 2020 debut, he has made 1520 runs off 57 matches, with an impressive strike of 125.4, including nine half-centuries and one century. It will be interesting to watch the batter from Karnataka team up with his fellow state-team batter and captain, KL Rahul, and how he starts his new IPL team stint with a bang.

Shamar Joseph

Shamar Joseph got off to an impeccable cricketing start following his unforgettable debut performance for the Caribbean team against Australia. He became a global sensation when, despite an injured foot, he took seven wickets in the final innings to lead the West Indies to a surprising eight-run victory at the Gabba in the second Test of a drawn series. As his performance implies, Shamar Joseph is no doubt a viable substitute for Mark Wood to contribute significantly to the LSG’s bowling assault and make his first IPL outing memorable.

The Indian Premier League has become a gateway to execution and the display of impeccable cricketing talent. It is not a lie that we have seen many top and prominent players making a mark amongst the cricket fanatics, thanks to this cash-rich and massive fanbase tournament. Be it for a domestic player creating a breakthrough in the Indian team space or a foreign player making their fanbase amongst the Indian fanbase.

As it implies, the auctions in December have seen some intriguing additions to the IPL family, and they would create an impact in giving an excellent kickstart to their IPL stint. This listicle will look at the top four debutants to watch out for in the upcoming IPL 2024 edition.

Rachin Ravindra- Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings, the reigning five-time champions, have signed all-rounder Rachin Ravindra for Rs 1.8 crore. In his T20I career, he has scored only 146 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.18 and taken 11 wickets. Rachin Ravindra distinguished out for New Zealand at the recent World Cup 2023 tournament.

Ravindra took full use of his place up the order, scoring three three-digit figures for a total of 565 runs, the most by any batter making his World Cup debut. And with Devon Conway being ruled out for most of the tournament due to a significant thumb injury for the next two months, Rachin Ravindra can fill up the boots of a vacant opening partner with Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Gerald Coetzee- Mumbai Indians

Gerald Coetzee, a South African quickgun, joined the Mumbai Indians for Rs 5 crore. Coetzee had a base price of Rs 2 crore. Coetzee played four T20Is and took six wickets. He played his final 20-over match against India in 2023. The five-time winners are well-known for their excellent speed bowling, and the team is working hard to improve it for the IPL 2024.

The Proteas pacer will assist Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Hardik Pandya’s pace attack. The highlights of his maiden IPL season will be his rapid pace and wicket-scalping technique in essential situations.

See Also: 5 players with most runs In IPL ft Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Dilshan Madhushanaka- Mumbai Indians

In the IPL 2024 auction, the Mumbai Indians spent Rs 4.6 crore for Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast Dilshan Madushanka. In 14 T20 matches, the seamer has taken 14 wickets at an average of 30.93.

It is hardly surprising that the arrival of the Sri Lankan pacer and South African quickie Gerald Coetzee has improved the Mumbai Indians’ pace-bowling department, which already has Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Jason Behrendoff, to mention a few. This player’s debut will make the five-time champion bowling team one of the strongest in the tournament.

Shamar Joseph- Lucknow Super Giants

Though he has got his name in the IPL ecosystem as a replacement for Mark Wood from the Lucknow Super Giants, Shamar Joseph did the talking with the ball after his brilliant and memorable performance for the Carribean side against the Aussies. Joseph made his West Indies debut in the drawn series against Australia, dismissing Steven Smith with his first ball in Test cricket, which the team lost in Adelaide.

He became a worldwide sensation when, despite an ailing foot, he claimed seven wickets in the final innings to lead West Indies to a stunning eight-run victory at the Gabba in the second Test. It was West Indies’ first Test victory in Australia since 1997. As his performance suggests, it is not surprising to see Shamar Joseph being the major contributor in the LSG’s bowling attack and, of course, an IPL debutant to check out for.

In a recent update, the West Indies Cricket Board has approved an enhanced central contract for right-arm pacer Shamar Joseph in recognition of his outstanding performance during the West Indies’ victorious 2nd Test against Australia at the renowned Gabba stadium in Brisbane earlier this month.

Shamar Joseph played a pivotal role in the series finale, contributing significantly to the West Indies’ historic Test match victory in Australia after 27 years. The two-time World Champions were striving for their first red-ball series win down under since the 1992/93 season.

Despite facing a setback with a 10-wicket loss in the 1st Test, the West Indies found inspiration in Rodney Hogg’s critical comments labeling the visiting team as extremely lackluster. Hogg’s remarks not only fueled frustration but also ignited a determination within the West Indies’ camp to make history.

During the Pink ball Test, standout performances from Kavem Hodge, Joshua Da Silva, Kevin Sinclair, and Alzarri Joseph led the underdogs to post 311 in the 1st innings. Subsequently, a commendable bowling display limited the Australians to 289, with Shamar Joseph claiming a solitary wicket, while the experienced Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph secured 3 and 4 wickets, respectively.

Despite a challenging 2nd innings with the bat, the West Indies managed to reach a total of 211, setting a target for their opponents.

In the defense of the target, Shamar Joseph displayed leadership despite an injured toe resulting from Mitchell Starc’s formidable yorker. The 24-year-old openly acknowledged his uncertainty about taking the field after the match. However, following treatment, Joseph not only provided initial support but also went on to secure an impressive 7/68 in just his second Test match.

His victims included Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. Throughout the series, Shamar Joseph claimed a total of 13 wickets, building on his earlier success with a 5-wicket haul in his debut Test in Adelaide.

“CWI Director Asserts the Necessity of Promoting Shamar Joseph to a CWI International Retainer Contract”

After his remarkable performance at the Gabba and considering his evident quality and potential, Shamar Joseph has been granted an international retainer contract by the West Indies Cricket Board. Prior to the series, the right-arm fast bowler held a franchise contract.

This enhancement in his contract by CWI is aimed at ensuring his continued commitment to international cricket, in contrast to some of his seniors like Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers, who opt for participation in the flourishing franchise T20 leagues over national duties.

CWI director Enoch Lewis viewed this development as a significant moment for the nation, asserting that Shamar Joseph had rightfully earned his new contract.

“We are filled with exhilaration, and it is also our duty to promote Shamar Joseph to a CWI international retainer contract. His exceptional talent and unwavering dedication played a pivotal role in our team’s recent triumph at the Gabba, and such promise deserves proper recognition. Shamar has not merely received a retained contract; he has truly earned it.” – Lewis expressed.

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