'Apparently, I’ve reinvented West Indies Test cricket' - Rodney Hogg eats humble pie after Windies' historic Gabba win

In a recent turn of events, the West Indies cricket team secured a historic eight-run triumph against the World Test Champions at The Gabba, marking their first Test win on Australian soil since 1997. What's even more astonishing is the role played by former Australian pacer Rodney Hogg's critical remarks in inspiring the West Indies' stellar performance.

Hogg, known for his candid comments, previously labeled the West Indies as 'hopeless and pathetic' after their ten-wicket loss in Adelaide. His blunt assessment seemed to have lit a fire under the West Indies players, who went on to defy expectations and clinch victory in Brisbane.

Shamar Joseph, a young fast-bowler for the West Indies, showcased resilience by dismissing his toe injury concerns and delivering a remarkable seven-wicket haul during the match, ultimately contributing to the team's historic win.

Hogg, surprised by the West Indies' turnaround, reflected on his earlier assessment, wondering about the accuracy of his prediction when observing the team's performance in the second Test's first innings.

“When I looked at the West Indies in that first innings in this second Test, I was having a look here and I’m thinking to myself, ‘How good was my prediction?’. They were 5/65 and Starc had three wickets … it was looking like a dead set two-and-a-half-day game," he said as quoted by sen.com.au.

Hogg acknowledged the exceptional performance by the West Indies, emphasising the unique challenges they faced, including the day-night format, pink ball, and a large crowd at The Gabba.

“What an amazing performance, it was fantastic to see them given an opportunity to play a second Test match against Australia. The fact that they were up at the Gabba, some of them had never played in a day-night game before. There’s a pink ball. They’re in front of 30,000 or 40,000 people. It’s a different experience,” added Hogg.

I must say we had two words that inspired us in this Test match: Braithwaite

Kraigg Braithwaite, the West Indies captain, openly acknowledged that Hogg's critical words served as inspiration for their performance in the Test match. Braithwaite playfully questioned Hogg's muscle size, highlighting the team's newfound confidence. Braithwaite even cheekily questioned Hogg about the size of his muscles, showcasing the team's newfound confidence.

“I must say we had two words that inspired us in this Test match. Mr Rodney Hogg said we were ‘pathetic’ and ‘hopeless’, so that source was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him: Are these muscles big enough for him?” Braithwaite said.

While Hogg might have been served a humble pie, he acknowledged the West Indies' improvement throughout the series. “Well, apparently, I’ve reinvented West Indies Test cricket. They were hopeless before I made those comments and they’ve, they’ve all jumped up and been motivated to play well," he concluded.