POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (CMC):
NO SOONER had West Indies captain Shai Hope called Alzarri Joseph an exciting player, whose attitude was something his side could emulate, the lanky pace bowler shot up the International Cricket Council’s One-Day International rankings.
Joseph is now the number 11th ranked bowler in the world after his six wickets at an average of 17 in the just-concluded ODI series against South Africa, which ended in a one-one draw.
“One thing about Alzarri – any time I throw the ball to him or any previous captain [threw the ball to him], you always expect something to happen,” Hope said of the 26-year-old paceman after his side’s four-wicket loss to South Africa.
Hope was speaking in the context of wanting to see the West Indies adopt a similar attitude to cricket that Joseph employs.
“He’s one of those guys that gives his all regardless of the situation and it is something I think all of us as players need to take a leaf out of his book.
“He’s just one of those exciting guys who’s always willing to learn, he’s always willing to improve, he’s always asking questions, watching videos – all those things just to improve his game.
“So definitely we need to look at that and hopefully we can incorporate it into everyone’s game.”
Hope moved up two places to 12th after he made a match-wining 128 not out – his 14th ODI hundred – in the second ODI – his first substantive match in charge of the Caribbean side.
Joseph grabbed three for 53 in the second ODI against the South Africans at Buffalo Park in East London that West Indies won, and three for 50 in the third and final ODI of the series at J.B. Marks Oval in Potchefstroom that the Caribbean side lost to share the series 1-1 (the first match was rained out).
The Antiguan has taken 93 wickets at 27 runs apiece in 56 ODIs for West Indies, and he enjoys a strike rate of a little under 31.
In the meantime, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein moved up to number 20 and is the only other West Indies bowler in the top 20.
Hosein took three for 59 and two for 49 in the two matches, respectively.
The Trinidadian has captured 49 wickets at 27 each in 31 ODIs for the Caribbean side, and he has a strike rate of a little over 34.
West Indies will now turn their attention to the three-match Twenty20 International series which bowls off next weekend with a day-night double-header in East London.