Now a full-fledged professional cricketer for the West Indies and T&T Red Force captain (he has also suited up in the CPL for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots), the 25-year-old Joshua Da Silva who will be 26 in June, sat down for a "Question and Answer" session from his busy schedule.
He attended St Mary’s College where he started to play, in his words “hard ball cricket”, and later joined the Queen’s Park Cricket Club.
Having unseated former Test skipper Denesh Ramdin as T&T’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman, the 22-year-old won a reserve spot in the Windies’ touring party and starred in the second of their intra-squad warm-ups, scoring an unbeaten 133 and then 56 not out as an opener. And with regular Test gloveman Shane Dowrich heading home from the New Zealand tour, the path was cleared for Da Silva to step in and make his Test debut in December 2020.
To date, he has represented the West Indies in 26 Test matches and two One Day Internationals (debut versus Bangladesh in Bangladesh, January 2021). He made his first-class debut for T&T at Tarouba in the 2018-19 Regional Four Day Competition in December 2018. In October 2019, he was named on the West Indies Emerging Team for the 2019-20 Regional Super50 tournament. He made his List A debut in November 2019, for the West Indies Emerging Team in the 2019-20 Regional Super50 tournament and in January 2020, in the opening round of the 2019-20 West Indies Championship, he scored his maiden century in first-class cricket, with an unbeaten 113.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Petit Valley where I have lived for all 25 years of my life.
Who are the people who influenced you the most, in your cricket career and in life in general?
My parents are the people who influenced me the most in my life. They taught me from a young age that hard work is necessary in order to achieve my goals. Countless drops to and from training and seeing me through all the ups and downs but always sticking by my side. Career wise a few coaches stood out in helping me throughout. From an early age when I thought I wanted to be a footballer, coach Dion La Foucade, he instilled a lot of discipline and tough love which made me mature quite quickly, also coach Andre Lawrence who was my coach at St Mary’s College. Also coach David Furlonge who spent many hours behind the scenes helping with my game.
When and how did you get into playing cricket?
I always loved cricket even though I wanted to be a footballer. My dad and my aunt would always take me to the test matches in the Queen’s Park Oval to watch West Indies play. At home, my neighbours and I would always play cricket in the front yard and when no one was home my dad would throw balls for me in the house as much as my mom didn’t like it. I only broke a few windows.
What motto do you live by and what are your guidelines for success?
There are two mottos I live by, hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The guidelines I tried to follow were to put in the work and always be open to learning. But most importantly always be ready for an opportunity.
Who were your cricket heroes growing up?
My cricketing idols growing up were, of course, the legend Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shane Watson.
What are some of your most memorable performances so far in your cricket career?
One of my most memorable performances would have to be my maiden Test century versus England in 2022 but I would say the most memorable performance of my career was being a part of the team that beat Australia in Australia recently…it is going to be difficult to beat that!
Of all your accolades, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?
I think the "Man of the Match" versus England and to also win the series would have to be the most special! (West Indies vs England, 3rd Test, Grenada, March 2022)
[Coming in at No 8 with the score 95 for 6, West Indies were staring at a match-losing deficit in reply to England's 204. The early stages of his innings were restrained with just 13 runs coming off his first 86 deliveries. Fifty-three came off his next 86 as he began to open up. And then as he steered the final stages of the innings he returned to his shell with 34 coming off his final 85 deliveries.]
What cricket goals and or ambitions do you still have?
I would love to play 100 Test matches for the West Indies! Short-term goals I would like to be more consistent so that I can help West Indies and T&T win more matches.
Describe yourself in two words one beginning with J, the other with D, your initials.
Joyful and Determined.
