Shamar Joseph became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a T20 International at Sabina Park, finishing with 5 for 33 as West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets to win the three-match series 2-1.
Joseph’s figures were the best ever recorded at the Kingston venue in T20Is, surpassing Alex Cusack’s 4 for 11 for Ireland against West Indies in 2014 . The performance marked Joseph’s maiden five-wicket haul in the format .
Early Career and Test Breakthrough
Born on August 31, 1999, in Tucber Park, Berbice, Guyana, Joseph worked as a security guard before pursuing cricket professionally . He made his first-class debut for Guyana in February 2023 and earned selection for West Indies A later that year .
Joseph made his Test debut against Australia in January 2024 at the Adelaide Oval, taking a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket . He became the second West Indies bowler ever to achieve the feat, after Tyrell Johnson in 1939 .
His defining performance came in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Bowling with an injured toe after being struck by a Mitchell Starc yorker, Joseph took 7 for 68 in Australia’s second innings to secure an eight-run victory for West Indies . It was West Indies’ first Test win in Australia since 1997 .
Joseph later took 5 for 33 against South Africa in Test cricket at Providence, his home venue in Guyana .
Rise in T20 Cricket
In the 2023 Caribbean Premier League, Joseph was initially enlisted as a net bowler for the Guyana Amazon Warriors before being drafted as a replacement for the injured Keemo Paul . He has since become a regular in franchise leagues, including stints with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and other teams worldwide .
Playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2026 CPL, Joseph took 3 for 22 against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, reaching speeds around 150 kilometers per hour .
The performance against Sri Lanka in June 2026 marked his emergence as a force in T20 internationals. Across the three-match series, Joseph claimed 11 wickets, equaling the record for most wickets in a three-match T20I series held by Rashid Khan .
His victims in the decisive third T20I included Pathum Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dushmantha Chameera .
Career Statistics
In 12 Test matches, Joseph has taken 55 wickets at an average of 21.87 with best figures of 7 for 68 . He has claimed four five-wicket hauls in the format .
In 25 T20 Internationals, he has 37 wickets at an average of 21.54 with best figures of 5 for 33 . His ODI record shows 4 wickets in 9 matches .
As a lower-order batter, Joseph has scored 399 runs in Test cricket with a highest score of 44, including 42 fours and 19 sixes . His first-class batting record includes 513 runs at an average of 14.65 .
Recognition and Records
Joseph won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for January 2024, becoming the first West Indies player to receive the honor .
At the ESPNcricinfo Awards 2024, he received Best Test Bowling Performance and Test Debutant of the Year for his 7 for 68 at the Gabba .
Joseph has received a two-year central contract from Cricket West Indies, one of only six players awarded such terms .
Recent Form and Outlook
Following his T20I series success against Sri Lanka, Joseph continued his form in the 2026 Caribbean Premier League with figures of 2 for 25, 2 for 22, 3 for 22, and 1 for 36 across recent matches .
His Test record in 2026 includes performances against Pakistan at Port of Spain, where he took 2 for 84 and 1 for 17 .
Joseph has stated his intention to play Test cricket as a priority despite the demands of franchise cricket . With his pace consistently reaching the late 140s and a growing record across formats, he remains a central figure in West Indies’ fast-bowling plans.
