- Swipe at fast bowler has blown up in great’s face
- Shamar Joseph has been a standout with the new ball
Aussie cricket legend Ian Healy is eating his words following his astonishing attack on West Indies paceman Shamar Joseph ahead of the first Test where he declared the quick ‘isn’t Curtly Ambrose’ – then called him ‘champ’.
Speaking on SEN Radio, a fired-up Healy responded to Joseph warning Aussie Sam Konstas to ‘look out’ in Barbados.
‘OK Shamar, well you’ve delivered crap all year,’ Healy said on Tuesday.
‘So he better improve, that’s what I’m saying.
‘You’re not Curtly Ambrose, champ.’
Joseph left Healy red-faced after snaring four wickets in the first innings, including the scalps of Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and all-rounder Beau Webster – then backing that up by clean-bowling Konstas in his second stint at the crease.
Aussie cricket legend Ian Healy (pictured) is eating his words following his attack on West Indies paceman Shamar Joseph
Shamar Joseph responded with four wickets in the first innings, including Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and all-rounder Beau Webster
The Guyanese star earlier described Aussie young gun Konstas as a ‘stylish player’.
As many Aussies will attest to, being labelled ‘champ’ is an insult these days – although it used to be a compliment.
In a recent TikTok video, a staff member from the Manly NRL team playfully labelled a number of footy stars ‘champ’ at the end of a conversation to gauge their reaction.
‘What do you mean?,’ forward Jazz Tevaga demanded.
‘Why are you calling me ‘champ’ for?’
Others, including Ben Trbojevic, Tommy Talau and Lachlan Croker, also got their backs up after hearing the word.
NRL players aren’t the only ones objecting to its use, with American-born AFL star Mason Cox also noticing it in his line of work.
‘You want to know the one word in the Australian language that will upset anyone?’ he asked in TikTok video.
Joseph answered Healy in the best way possible, dismissing Konstas (pictured) in both innings
Healy compared Joseph to Curtly Ambrose (pictured), who took 405 Test wickets across his decorated career
‘The word starts with a C – you might think I’ve used it before, but the word is “champ”.’
Healy’s attack came after Joseph said he admired the teenager’s fearlessness at the crease during his Test debut last December at the MCG against India.
Asked if he thought Konstas would produce his trademark ramp shots in the Caribbean, Joseph responded with: ‘Well, that’s up to him. I will do my part.’
Joseph, 25, announced himself to the cricket world in stunning fashion last January.
In just his second Test, Joseph finished with six wickets in an incredible 10-over spell as Australia failed to chase down 216 in Brisbane.
He finished with figures of 7-68 as the visitors won by eight runs at the Gabba, in what was their first victory on Australian soil in 27 years.
