WI coach Darren Sammy puts Shamar Joseph in T20 World Cup frame | Top Vip News

West Indies Test hero Shamar Joseph could force his way into T20 World Cup calculations this year despite not playing in the two limited overs series against Australia and coach Daren Sammy admitted he has created a selection headache.

Joseph caused a stir across the cricket world last Sunday when he scored 7 for 68 to inspire the West Indies to a historic Test victory over Australia at the Gabba. His performance came after taking a five-wicket maiden haul in his debut Test in Adelaide, which included dismissing Steven Smith with his first ball in Test cricket.

Joseph has only played two T20 matches in his short career and is yet to gain a wicket in the format, having played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in last year’s CPL. He also played just two List A matches for Guyana in the Super50 Cup.

But Sammy, the West Indies white-ball coach, insisted Joseph would be an all-format star for his country and could well be factored into the T20 World Cup calculations.

“He will definitely be an all-format player,” Sammy said. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him in this team. But look, everything has a process. That’s the way me and the chairman of selectors operate. What he’s done, he’s created a really good headache for me.” with the World Cup approaching, advancing in the ODI team.

“We have other guys like Jayden Seales who is injured at the moment. So we are developing a core in all formats that allows us to pick from good positions, guys who are performing and that is what you want as a cricket nation.”

Joseph was not initially selected in the white-ball teams for the three-match ODI series starting at the MCG on Friday and the three-match T20I series starting next Friday in Hobart.

Instead, he was set to play in the ILT20 before having to withdraw due to the toe injury he suffered during the Gabba Test. Sammy revealed there had been talks about keeping him in Australia and adding him to the limited overs squads, but he was keen to allow him to return home to recover and celebrate with his family.

“We ride the wave that’s happening there, but we’re not going crazy,” Sammy said. “If the guy is hurt, let him go home and rest.

“It’s probably the first time he’s been away from home for so long. He has a young family. So we understand. Anything we do is well planned and well thought out.

“I think coming home to your family and enjoying this moment is important. Because victories like that don’t happen all the time. It’s important that you enjoy these moments. Savor it so that it keeps you motivated to have more moments like that.”

Instead, Joseph will head to the PSL in just over a fortnight after Peshawar Zalmi signed him as a replacement player.

Sammy was hopeful that Joseph’s performance would inspire his inexperienced ODI team in the three-match series against Australia.

“When someone performs like that, the team improves and it was really good to see,” Sammy said. “You see the smile on my face every time you come back to it and I just hope, my men, that every time challenges arise, you can remember that if you keep going, there will always be gold at the end of the rainbow.”