West Indies debutant’s ‘alpha’ move on Steve Smith

“I’ll get my bunny to do that.”

Test cricket offers up all sorts of unusual moments and it delivered once again as Australia claimed a dominant 10-wicket win over the West Indies in the first Test in Adelaide.

The Windies managed to make Australia bat twice, but the Aussies chased down the 26 runs required with relative ease.

A Travis Head century and Josh Hazlewood’s nine wickets helped get the Aussies over the line.

The Test ended on a sour note when Usman Khawaja was forced to retire hurt when a nasty bouncer from Shamar Joseph struck him on the jaw and left him in serious pain.

Khawaja has passed a concussion test but has been taken for precautionary scans on his jaw. He could be in doubt for next week’s second and final Test in Brisbane.

Joseph was in the thick of everything in Adelaide and joined an exclusive club when he dismissed Steve Smith with his first ever ball in Test cricket.

The debutant became just the 23rd player to achieve the feat on his way to a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He celebrated his five-for by kissing his cap and taking a bow.

You get the feeling Joseph is going to dine out on the fact he got Steve Smith out with his first ball, and there was a hilarious moment between the pair during the Windies’ second innings.

During Joseph’s stint at the crease, his shoelace came undone and in between balls he asked Smith if he could tie it up for him.

Smith duly obliged, walking up from second slip and bending down to tie up Joseph’s shoelace before walking away with a smile.

Shamar Joseph was the feel good story in Adelaide. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

This photo is going straight to Shamar Joseph’s pool room. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Fox Cricket’s Isa Guha said: “That’s how you do it. You get Steve Smith to do your shoelaces for you. Get him out first ball.”

Kerry O’Keeffe cheekily quipped that Joseph must have thought: “I’ll get my bunny to do that.”

AAP’s Scott Bailey tweeted: “Incredible alpha play from Shamar Joseph. Dismisses Steve Smith with the first ball he bowls in Test cricket, and now asks the former world No. 1 batsman to bend down and tie up his shoelace early in his second innings..”

Smith and Joseph pose for a photo after the Test. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

There was plenty of mutual respect between Smith and Joseph, who shook hands and embraced out in the middle after Australia hit the winning runs.

The 24-year-old from Guyana, who used to be a security guard, posed with the Aussie veteran after the match as well.

Joseph also showed he won’t be a No. 11 batsman for too long, scoring 36 and 15 — making his mark with a cover drive in his first ball off Josh Hazlewood in the second innings after the Aussie paceman tore through the top order.

“I had a few conversations with the boys in the dressing room,” Joseph said.

“I told them I would get a wicket with my first ball, but I didn’t know it would be Steve Smith.

“I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

SOURCE: NEWS.COM