Alzarri Joseph, a fast bowler for the West Indies, caused a stir during the third ODI match against England. He took the wicket of Jordan Cox early in the game but did not celebrate with his team. Instead, he walked off the field at the end of his over. This strange behavior left his team briefly down to 10 players. It seemed that Joseph was unhappy with the field settings made by captain Shai Hope, but when Hope was asked if they had spoken after the incident, he refused to comment.
Daren Sammy, the West Indies head coach, later spoke out about Joseph’s behavior, calling it “unacceptable.” Sammy said that he would be having a conversation with Joseph to address the situation. According to Sammy, such behavior was not something he wanted to see from his players, as it went against the values he was trying to build within the team. Sammy added, “We will definitely have a chat about that,” emphasizing that this type of conduct was not acceptable in West Indies cricket.
Following this, Cricket West Indies (CWI) made an announcement that Joseph would be suspended for two matches due to his actions. Miles Bascombe, the CWI director of cricket, explained that Joseph’s behavior did not meet the standards expected from the team, and they had to take decisive action to address it. He said, “Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged.”
Joseph later expressed regret for his actions. He apologized to his captain, Shai Hope, as well as to his teammates and the West Indies fans. “I recognize that my passion got the best of me,” Joseph said. He acknowledged that even a small lapse in judgment could have significant consequences and deeply regretted any disappointment caused by his actions.
Joseph’s suspension means he will miss the upcoming T20 double-header against England, which will take place at the Kensington Oval.
Despite the drama, Joseph did return to the pitch later in the match. He came back at the start of the sixth over, but Romario Shepherd had replaced him in the attack. Shepherd quickly took a wicket, dismissing Jacob Bethell with his first delivery. Shepherd also took the wicket of England’s captain Liam Livingstone. Joseph eventually came back into the game in the 12th over but left the field again after two misfields during his spell. This time, a substitute fielder took his place. Joseph finished the match with impressive figures of 2 wickets for 45 runs in his 10 overs. He also contributed to a great relay catch with Brandon King that removed England’s top scorer, Phil Salt.
Before Joseph’s suspension was confirmed, cricket commentators had already reacted to his behavior. Mark Butcher from Sky Sports said that Joseph’s outburst would likely have consequences. He emphasized that players should channel their anger towards the opposition, not against their own team. “Protect your captain, for better or for worse,” he said. Former West Indies captain Jason Holder also commented on the incident, saying, “It’s not what you want to see,” while Sir Alastair Cook added, “I’ve never seen a reaction like that.” He also noted that while Joseph is usually quiet on the field, his actions showed that he cared.
Key Points:
- Alzarri Joseph was upset with his captain’s field settings during the third ODI against England and did not celebrate after taking a wicket.
- Joseph briefly left the field after his over, leaving the West Indies team down to 10 players.
- Head coach Daren Sammy called Joseph’s behavior “unacceptable” and said they would have a conversation about it.
- Joseph has been handed a two-match suspension by Cricket West Indies for his actions.
- Joseph apologized to his captain, teammates, and fans for his behavior.
- Despite the incident, Joseph returned to the field later and finished with impressive figures in the match.
