CRICKET-WINDIES-Series win a ‘fresh start,’ says Joseph

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph believes the recent Twenty20 International series win for West Indies represents a “fresh start” in the wake of last year’s disastrous World Cup campaign.

The Caribbean side beat the Proteas by seven runs in Tuesday’s final game at the Wanderers to take the three-match series 2-1 and log their first series win over the hosts in nearly a decade.

And Joseph said the T20 unit was focused on reinventing itself under new captain Rovman Powell.

“It’s a fresh start under a new captain, so we’re just trying to build a team, and give everyone the confidence to go out and be themselves, play their game and not think about if they’re going to be in the team for the next tour or not,” said Joseph.

“So I think we’re going down a good path, giving everyone the confidence and allowing them to be themselves.”

He continued: “We have complete confidence in every player. You will only sometimes do well, but as long as you give your best to the team, that’s the best thing you can hope for.

“Sometimes, if you set out to do one thing and it doesn’t work out, that doesn’t mean you’re not trying your best to do it.”

The two teams split the doubleheader between Centurion last week, leaving the third game as the series decider. And after West Indies posted a more than competitive 220, Joseph snatched his first-ever five-wicket haul in the format to take his side over the line and earn Man-of-the-Match honors.

More significantly, he picked up three wickets in the penultimate over, with Proteas requiring 35 runs for victory from the last 12 balls of the contest.

“I can’t necessarily pinpoint where we won the game, but there were key moments in the game where we got some excellent momentum,” Joseph pointed out.

“In the power-play, Sheldon (Cottrell) and Roston (Chase) started good for us, and that allowed me to come and get the wicket of Quinton de Kock, and that probably set them back a bit.

“But in death, for me, it was just about keeping it simple – not overthinking, not trying to do too much. [I was] trying not to be predictable while keeping it simple.”

Joseph finished the tour as the leading wicket-taker in all formats for the visitors after claiming 12 wickets at 18 runs apiece in the two-Test series and six wickets from two matches in the three-match ODI series.

And while results for West Indies were below par, Joseph said the experience had been vital for him.

“It was a fairly good tour for me in all formats. Having that experience of playing here in the SAT20 [earlier this year] helped me along the way. I would say it’s been an excellent experience for me,” said the 26-year-old.

“From the start of my career, I’ve always tried to improve as much as possible. It’s always adding that one percent every day, getting information, using it as much as possible, and adjusting to conditions.

“Because sometimes you get information, but it’s a bit different on the day, so it’s about adapting to conditions for me.”