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West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph has set his sights on spoiling the farewell Test of England‘s legendary pacer James Anderson when the two teams meet at Lord’s starting July 10.
Admiration and aim
In a series of interviews, the 24-year-old Joseph acknowledged Anderson’s status as an amazing player and someone he looked up to. However, the young West Indian is determined to deny the 41-year-old Anderson a fitting send-off in his final Test match for England.
“He is such an amazing player. Someone I have looked up to. Someone who is very good at this level. You could say he’s perfect because he has a lot of wickets at this level. Definitely, I would want to ruin that farewell for him,” Joseph told reporters on Monday.
Joseph, who made his Test debut for the West Indies earlier this year in Australia, is excited to play at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the first time. He has fond memories of watching great fast bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc perform at the venue during the Ashes.
“Oh, they’re great. Watching a lot of the Ashes with great fast bowlers—Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc—all the great fast bowlers come out here and do well. That’s something I would want to do as well,” Joseph added.
The young pacer is confident that the West Indies can compete against England, having recently secured a historic Test win at the Gabba in Australia.
“Since our last tour of Australia, we maintain our energy. That’s the mindset we come into this series with (that the West Indies can compete against England),” Joseph revealed.
Also READ: ENG vs WI: England unveils their playing XI for James Anderson’s farewell Test
Performance to back his words
The last time the West Indies toured England for a Test series, they managed to beat the hosts in the first of three Tests before going on to lose the series. In his two Test matches for the West Indies so far, Joseph has already made a significant impact, picking up 13 wickets, including a match-winning seven-wicket haul in the second innings against Australia.
As Anderson prepares to bid farewell to international cricket, the young Caribbean fast bowler is determined to spoil the occasion and secure a victory for his team. “Definitely, I would want to ruin that farewell for him,” Joseph said, showcasing his competitive spirit and desire to make his mark on the game.
