Ian Healy has made a striking remark aimed at West Indies pace bowler Shamar Joseph following his warning to 19-year-old Australian batsman Sam Konstas to “just look out.” Speaking on SEN radio, Healy pointedly reminded Joseph of his lacklustre performance over the past year, stating, “OK Shamar, well you’ve delivered crap all year. So he better improve, that’s what I’m saying.” He later added, “You’re not Curtly Ambrose, champ,” implying that Joseph has big shoes to fill.
Joseph’s warning to Konstas came during an interview with News Corp in Bridgetown, on the eve of the first Test match. The 25-year-old praised Konstas as a “stylish player” and acknowledged the teenager’s confidence during his Test debut as “encouraging.” When asked if he expected Konstas to take risks against him, Joseph replied playfully, “Well, that’s up to him. I will do my part.”
After being dropped from the recent series in Sri Lanka and the World Test Championship final against South Africa, Konstas finds himself back in the squad alongside Josh Inglis for the first match in the Caribbean. Healy reminisced about Konstas’s impressive performance against India, where he scored 60 runs against the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah during last year’s Boxing Day Test.
Conversely, Joseph’s standout moment came in Brisbane nearly a year ago when he took 7-68, leading the West Indies to their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years. Despite this, his recent statistics in the six Tests following his breakout performance, yielding 16 wickets at an average of 34.43, suggest that he has not consistently delivered impressive results. This year, he has managed just eight wickets across four matches in first-class and one-day formats, which further intensifies Healy’s criticism.
Healy also mused on Joseph’s past struggles with injury, recounting how he almost missed playing due to a toe injury inflicted by a Mitchell Starc yorker during that Brisbane Test. Despite doubts about his ability to bowl, Joseph’s resilience shone through as he heroically returned to the field and led his team to victory.
With Australia set to play Test cricket in the West Indies for the first time since 2015, both players find themselves with a fair share of expectations to live up to, marking a pivotal moment in their respective careers. The first match in Bridgetown will undoubtedly be a significant encounter for both teams.