Shamar Joseph rightly stole the headlines for his extraordinary debut Test matches in the West Indies’ 1-1 series draw with Australia that no one saw coming.
But it so easily could have been a very different story, with Steve Smith instead being heralded far and wide among cricket fans.
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In the end, Joseph was named player of the match and series, underlined by his seven-wicket haul on Sunday as he bowled the West Indies to a drought-breaking win on Aussie soil.
Stranded at the other end when Joseph clean bowled Josh Hazlewood to win the match was a 34-year-old veteran who could have justifiably lifted a middle finger towards his critics.
Smith came under fire for putting his hand up to replace Dave Warner as opener in the Australian Test side.
For long periods it seemed likely one of Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw or Marcus Harris would get another opportunity atop the order before Smith belatedly nominated himself for the role.
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