With West Indies currently ranked eighth in Test cricket, young fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph, has set his sights set on lifting his side up the rankings with the three-match series against England next month.
The 23-year-old Antiguan was speaking during the West Indies’ daily virtual press conference yesterday and expressed, “I see this tour as an opportunity for me to help the team to get higher up the rankings.”
He reiterated, “any opportunity I get to play I’ll take it and whatever the captain and team requires of me I will do it.”
While Joseph views himself as one of the weaker bowlers, compared to his fast bowling counterparts in Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel, it could provide him with the opportunity to go under the radar.
“Well obviously those three guys have a lot more experience than I do. I think more often than not I see myself as the weaker link so I think my job is to come in and back up those bowlers and keep the pressure on,” he stated.
With just nine Tests under his belt, Joseph clarified that it was not his age that made him consider himself the weaker link among the four-prong attack but rather the amount of matches they have played. However, he backed himself to get the job done.
Joseph explained, “It’s not necessarily about age but it’s the amount matches compared to the other three bowlers and yes I can use it to my advantage because I know my abilities, they might not know but once I can on the day get the job done I can get on top of any opponent.”
Joseph, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, noted that the key to bowling well in English conditions was keeping it “around that good area, extracting whatever movement you can off the pitch and just stick to the plans as long as possible.”
The former Under-19 World Cup winner pointed out that he was focused on playing his role while looking “to give myself a chance to penetrate through the middle order, be consistent, be aggressive and hold one end for the team.”
West Indies squad: Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shayne Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.
Reserve players: Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican
