The Leeward Island Cricket board and the Leeward Island Hurricanes would like to congratulate Alzarri Joseph for capturing the Junior Sportsman of the year award, days before his 20th birthday which was released by the Caribbean Sports Journalist Association (CASJA), sports award committee.
The winners were selected from the final list of 49 nominees which included Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. The Nominees represented Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Paralympics and Swimming.
In 4 out of the 8 categories Cricket dominated The 3rd Annual Caribbean Sports Journalist Association. (CASJA)awards:
Sportsman of the year: Usain Bolt, (JAM) – Athletics;
Sportsman of the year : Elaine Thompson (JAM) – Athletics
Sportsman of the year : Alzarri Joseph (ANT) – Cricket
Junior sportsman of the year: Hayley Matthews (BAR) – Cricket
Rising star male: Jaheel Hyde (JAM) – Athletics
Rising star female : Shericka Jackson (JAM) – Athletics;
Team of the year male: West Indies U-19 – Cricket
Team of the year female: West Indies Women – Cricket
Joseph’s career began in his backyard, bowling to his father Alva. Soon enough, he was playing for his old man’s old club. He broke into the age-group teams for Antigua and Leeward Islands, and in 2014-15, graduated to playing first-class cricket. He took 7 for 46 against Windward Islands in November 2015.
As a young cricketer Alzarri Joseph got the opportunity to play for Leeward Islands under 19 and further was selected to the West Indies under 19 World Cup team where he was instrumental in them winning the 2016 U-19 World Cup, he had an average of 13.76 and economy rate of 3.31. He recorded the fastest ball of the tournament too – a 143 kph thunderbolt, which broke Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Sly’s stumps.
Joseph had also played for the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premiere League T 20 competition. He has gained the recognition from his heroes like Andy Roberts who loves his pace, Ian Bishop who wanted him to be fast-tracked to Test cricket and Curtly Ambrose who is proud of his lineage saying, “I am Antiguan, you’re Antiguan and I am proud.”
He made his test debut for the West Indies on 9th- – 13th August 2016 against India he also made his One-day International debut October 2nd against Pakistan.
Congratulations Alzarri Joseph from the Leeward Island Hurricanes and LICB.