Curtly Ambrose praised Shamar Joseph after his match-winning seven-for against Australia, but has urged him to focus on red-ball cricket before branching out into ODI and T20 formats.
West Indies quick Shamar Joseph became an instant cult hero with a remarkable seven-wicket haul to down world’s No.1 ranked Test team at the Gabba on Sunday.
Now his rapid rise will bring with it a dilemma facing many rising stars from the Caribbean.
The 24-year-old will likely soon face a huge decision regarding the future of his burgeoning career with T20 franchises across the world to inevitably come knocking with lucrative offers.
Joseph instantly stamped his mark on the Test arena, taking the scalp of Steve Smith with his first ever delivery before going onto record figures of 5/94. He followed that up an unforgettable 7/68 at the Gabba that broke a drought of 27 years for the West Indies in Australia.
Speaking the The Daily Star in Dhaka, Ambrose said of the fast bowler: “He is a skiddy customer more in the mould of Malcolm Marshall. So, I hope that he remains focused, humble and continues to learn his craft and tries to learn and improve every single day.
“I would like to see Shamar Joseph play a lot of red-ball cricket. He has just started his career, so he needs to learn and understand what it takes to become a world-class fast bowler, and then you can always branch out to ODIs or T20 cricket. But learn the art first, make sure he’s got a solid foundation and then he can branch out.
“He is the type of person who could go on to become a successful cricketer. He is certainly a huge find for West Indies cricket, and as long he can continue, I think he could be a force to be reckoned with in world cricket.”
Several West Indies players were unavailable for selection for the series in Australia due to franchise commitments, meaning seven uncapped players were selected for the series. This further drove ongoing concerns for the West Indies’ decline as a Test-playing nation, and how Test cricket is prioritised by the global game.
Joseph has yet to make his international white-ball debut, but was bought by Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL last year. He played two matches for the side in 2023 before earning his maiden international call-up on the West Indies A tour to South Africa.