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In the lead-up to the first Test between West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval, Barbados, an unexpected war of words broke out when former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy took offense to a casual remark made by West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph.
Ian Healy’s verbal attack on Shamar Joseph before the Bridgetown Test
Joseph, speaking about facing Australian debutant Sam Konstas, had simply said, “Just look out, that’s all,” a rather mild and typical pre-match comment. However, Healy reacted harshly on SENQ Breakfast, launching a personal tirade against Joseph. “He’s had a terrible year since he went through us at the Gabba. He had this toe that had blown up and didn’t think he could play, he got out of his injury bed after someone said just come down and try it, and then he realised ‘oh you can play with pain.’ Shamar has come out today and said to Konstas ‘just look out and watch what is coming,” Healy said before adding, “OK Shamar, well you’ve delivered crap all year. So he better improve, that’s what I’m saying in the dressing room. He’s got real trouble. You’re not Curtly Ambrose, champ,”
This sharp critique from Healy, especially the comment comparing Joseph unfavorably to the legendary Curtly Ambrose, drew criticism from fans. Many felt Healy had blown Joseph’s harmless comment out of proportion. Nevertheless, it lit a fire in the young West Indies fast bowler, who did not respond with words, instead, he let his performance do the talking on the field.
Joseph strikes back with fiery spell against Australia at Kensington Oval
On Day 1 of the first Test, Joseph produced a searing opening spell that completely rattled Australia’s top order, making Healy’s comments look premature and ill-judged. Sharing the new ball with Jayden Seales, Joseph quickly made an impact by dismissing Konstas for just 3 runs , trapping him plumb in front and delivering a pointed, poetic response to Healy’s criticism. He followed that up with a wicket of Australia’s new No.3 Cameron Green. Joseph should’ve had Green out for a duck as well, had it not been for a dropped catch in the slips. He was relentless throughout his spell, maintaining high pace and accuracy.
Later, he broke a budding partnership between Usman Khawaja and Travis Head by dismissing Khawaja for 47 with a delivery that moved late and caught the edge. His best wicket of the day, however, came when he bowled all-rounder Beau Webster for 11. The delivery nipped off the seam, kept its line, and crashed into the top of off stump as Webster played down the wrong line a fast bowler’s dream dismissal. By the end of Australia’s first innings, Joseph had four wickets to his name and had played a vital role in bundling Australia out for 180, their lowest total against West Indies in 30 years.
Also WATCH: WI vs AUS : Jayden Seales gives Pat Cummins a heated send-off after dismissing him on Day 1 of first Test
Healy responds after being proven wrong by Joseph’s brilliant bowling
With the cricketing world praising Joseph’s brilliant spell, Ian Healy attempted damage control the next morning on SENQ Breakfast, insisting his original comments were taken out of context. “Yesterday, when I talked about backing up Sam Konstas when an opponent sledges him… I sort of talked about what the dressing room might say, is that the context, do you reckon, that I was talking about?” Healy, asked co-host Corey Parker, was quoted as saying by The Roar.
Healy continued, “Do you believe I was talking about what the dressing room might say to Konstas, or was it me saying something against Shamar Joseph? Geez, they’ve come out at me, haven’t they! They’ve said ‘oh no, I’ve sledged Shamar!’ Apparently, it’s saying I’ve had a personal dig at Shamar.” Despite his attempts to clarify, Healy couldn’t resist a final dig, adding, “He’s bowled beautifully again today, and it’s not easy with so much gold around your neck!” Meanwhile, Joseph, who needed no microphone to fire back, had already sealed his answer with a spell that tormented Australia’s batting line-up.
