A fit and raring to go Keon Joseph yesterday departed Guyana for his West Indies ‘A’ team assignment against Sri Lanka ‘A’ during their Caribbean tour set to commence in the coming weeks.
Joseph, like most of the selectees, plans to use the opportunity to possibly make the transition in the Test side. The 25-year-old fast – bowler moments before his departure, told Stabroek Sport that he is quite relaxed heading into the bilateral series.
“I’m feeling good after being a part of the [West Indies] A team for the second time,” the fast bowler disclosed.
“I just want to make use of this opportunity and set a big impact and achieved my goals.”
Joseph has been on the West Indies selector’s radar for some time and fortified himself as one of the second tier fast bowlers in the region after snapping up 7 for 53 against the Jamaican Scorpions earlier this year.
Having represented the West Indies at the youth World Cup in 2010, he was fast-tracked into the Guyana senior team during that same year and made his first-class debut against the Windward Islands.
The fast bowler then made his entrance into the West Indies ‘A’ side during their 2016 tour to Sri Lanka where he picked up eight wickets on the spin-friendly surface from three matches on the Asian continent.
Joseph was candid about his aspirations beyond the ‘A’ side and spoke of his childhood dream of breaking into the West Indies Test side.
“Of course it’s my dream to play Test cricket. Hopefully, I can keep doing well and get an opportunity soon enough. It’s always been my dream, from the time I was growing up,” the speedster added while also indicating that he is 100% fit and ready to go.
Joseph will share the new ball with either Sheldon Cottrell – one of two men with Test experience in the squad; the other being Guyanese Vishaul Singh – or 20 – year old Oshane Thomas when the regional ‘A’ side begin their campaign on October 11 in Jamaica. Meanwhile, quickie Reynard Leveridge, recovering from an injury, also provides hostility with the ball, depending on what combinations are preferred.
