Shamarh Brooks

{{short description|West Indian cricketer}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Shamarh Brooks | full_name = Shamarh Shaqad Joshua Brooks | image = Shamarh Brooks batting at Perth Stadium, First Test Australia versus West Indies, 2 December 2022 10.jpg | caption = Brooks batting during the first Test against Australia at Perth in December 2022 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|10|1}} | birth_place = Saint Michael, Barbados | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Leg-break | role = Top-order batter

| international = true | country = West Indies | internationalspan = 2019–present

| club1 = Barbados | year1 = {{nowrap|2007–present}} | club2 = St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | year2 = 2016–2017

| columns = 4 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 13 | runs1= 553 | bat avg1= 23.04 | 100s/50s1= 1/3 | top score1= 111 | deliveries1 = – | wickets1 = – | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1= 12/0 | column2 = ODI | matches2 = 29 | runs2= 842 | bat avg2= 30.07 | 100s/50s2= 1/4 | top score2= 101* | deliveries2 = – | wickets2 = – | bowl avg2 = – | fivefor2 = – | tenfor2 = – | best bowling2 = – | catches/stumpings2= 14/0 | column3 = FC | matches3 = 99 | runs3= 4,659 | bat avg3= 29.86 | 100s/50s3= 7/27 | top score3= 166 | deliveries3 = 791 | wickets3 = 7 | bowl avg3 = 78.14 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 2/68 | catches/stumpings3= 91/0 | column4 = LA | matches4 = 77 | runs4= 2014 | bat avg4= 29.61 | 100s/50s4= 1/12 | top score4= 101* | deliveries4 = 60 | wickets4 = 4 | bowl avg4 = 10.50 | fivefor4 = 0 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 2/12 | catches/stumpings4= 38/0 | date = 7 January 2024 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/230555.html Cricinfo }}

'''Shamarh Shaqad Joshua Brooks''' (born 1 October 1988) is a Barbadian international cricketer who plays international cricket for West Indies and plays domestic cricket for Barbados. He is a right-handed batsman who occasionally bowls leg-spin and mainly plays as a batsman.<ref name="espncricinfo.com">{{Cite web|title=Shamarh Brooks profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/shamarh-brooks-230555|access-date=2022-02-10|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref> He made his international debut for the West Indies in August 2019.<ref name="espncricinfo.com"/>

==Early and domestic career== Brooks was seen as a cricket prodigy in his teenage years. He played for the West Indies under-19 cricket team in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, made his first-class cricket debut for Barbados in 2007 and captained the West Indies in the 2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.<ref name=cricprofile>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/230555.html|title=Shamarh Brooks - Check Brooks's News, Career, Age, Rankings, Stats|access-date=23 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref name=bloomer>{{cite web|url=https://barbadostoday.bb/2019/08/15/late-bloomer/|title=Late bloomer|last=Harris|first=David|date=15 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019|work=Barbados Today}}</ref> He remained in the Barbados national team for several years, but never realized his full potential and after a particularly bad year in 2012, scoring just 76 runs at an average of 8.44, he was dropped from the national team.<ref name=bloomer/>

Brooks didn't play another first-class match until 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/97/97644/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Shamarh Brooks|access-date=23 August 2019|work=CricketArchive|url-access=subscription}}</ref> but immediately upon his return he scored his maiden first-class century against the Windward Islands.<ref name=bloomer/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8893/scorecard/787157/barbados-vs-windward-islands-wicb-professional-cricket-league-regional-4-day-tournament-2014-15|title=Full Scorecard of Barbados vs Windward Islands, WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4 Day Tournament, 2nd Innings - Score Report|access-date=23 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Over the next five years, he scored 3091 runs at an average of 38.63, including five centuries and 20 half-centuries.<ref name=bloomer/>

Brooks began to make steps towards Test cricket by captaining unofficial Test matches for the West Indies' second team, West Indies A, from 2016. This culminated in the West Indies A series against India A in England in 2018, where he scored 91 in the first match<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ambris-brooks-help-west-indies-a-take-250-run-lead-against-india-a/articleshow/64875672.cms|title=West Indies A vs India A: Ambris, Brooks help West Indies A take 250-run lead against India A|date=5 July 2018|access-date=23 August 2019|work=Times of India}}</ref> and 121 not out in the second match to finish as the highest run-scorer for the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/shamarh-brooks-gritty-ton-helps-west-indies-a-reach-3019-against-india-a-on-day-1-of-2nd-unofficial-test-4714351.html|title=Shamarh Brooks' gritty ton helps West Indies A reach 301/9 against India A on Day 1 of 2nd unofficial Test|date=11 July 2018|access-date=23 August 2019|work=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=12397;type=series|title=India A v West Indies A unofficial Test Series, 2018 Cricket Team Records & Stats|access-date=23 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

===Twenty20 franchise cricket=== Brooks played for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League, the top-level Twenty20 league in the West Indies, for two seasons in 2016 and 2017. He played 4 matches in each season, and across them both scored 119 runs at an average of 23.80 with a strike-rate of 120.20.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/caribbean-premier-league-2016/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=11003;team=5543;type=tournament|title=Caribbean Premier League, 2016 - St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Cricket Team Records & Stats|access-date=24 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/caribbean-premier-league-2017/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=11754;team=5543;type=tournament|title=Caribbean Premier League, 2017 - St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Cricket Team Records & Stats|access-date=24 August 2019|work=ESPncricinfo}}</ref>

==International career== In January 2019, Brooks was named in the West Indies' Test squad for their series against England as a reward for his first-class form,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25769086/darren-bravo-returns-west-indies-test-squad-face-england|title=Darren Bravo returns to West Indies Test squad to face England|date=15 January 2019|access-date=15 January 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/jamaican-john-campbell-called-test-duty|title=Jamaican John Campbell called up for Test duty|date=16 January 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=Loop Jamaica|archive-date=23 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823234231/http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/jamaican-john-campbell-called-test-duty|url-status=dead}}</ref> but he did not play. He then captained West Indies A in another series against India A in July and August 2019. Initially he was only meant to captain the final of three unofficial Test matches, with Kraigg Brathwaite captaining the first two,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsmax.tv/index.php/cricket/cricket-windies/item/40111-test-hopefuls-get-to-prove-themselves-against-india-a-next-month|title=Test hopefuls to prove themselves against India 'A' next month|last=Levy|first=Leighton|date=13 June 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=SportsMax|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618111057/https://www.sportsmax.tv/index.php/cricket/cricket-windies/item/40111-test-hopefuls-get-to-prove-themselves-against-india-a-next-month|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://barbadostoday.bb/2019/06/13/strong-windies-a-teams-named/|title=Strong Windies A teams named|date=13 June 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=Barbados Today}}</ref> but after an injury to Brathwaite, he stepped in to captain the first two matches as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/west-indies-selectors-make-changes-to-a-squad-as-brathwaite-dowrich-injured-2243349.html|title=West Indies Selectors Make Changes To 'A' Squad as Brathwaite, Dowrich Injured|date=25 July 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=Cricket Next}}</ref> Brooks led from the front with half centuries in both of the first two matches,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/19366/report/1190804/west-indies-a-vs-india-a-1st-unofficial-test-india-a-in-west-indies-2019|title=Recent Match Report - West Indies A vs India A 1st unofficial Test 2019|date=26 July 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/india-a-vs-west-indies-a-montcin-hodge-shamarh-brooks-strike-fifties-to-take-hosts-to-2435-on-day-1-of-second-unofficial-test-7094431.html|title=India A vs West Indies A: Montcin Hodge, Shamarh Brooks strike fifties to take hosts to 243/5 on Day 1 of second unofficial Test|date=1 August 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=First Post}}</ref> He was then again named in the West Indies' Test squad, this time for their series against India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1197123.html|title=Rahkeem Cornwall makes it to West Indies Test squad|date=10 August 2019|access-date=10 August 2019|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crictracker.com/uncapped-rahkeem-cornwall-shamarh-brooks-in-windies-squad-for-india-test-series/|title=Uncapped Rahkeem Cornwall, Shamarh Brooks in Windies squad for India Test series|author=Bijoy|date=10 August 2019|access-date=24 August 2019|work=CricTracker}}</ref>

Brooks made his Test debut for the West Indies against India on 22 August 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1188628.html |title=1st Test, ICC World Test Championship at North Sound, Aug 22-26 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=22 August 2019}}</ref> In November 2019, in the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Brooks scored his first century in Test cricket, with 111 runs.<ref name="CB">{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/111037/shamarh-brooks-maiden-ton-inflates-lead-to-90 |title=Shamarh Brooks' maiden ton inflates lead to 90 |work=CricBuzz |date=28 November 2019 |accessdate=28 November 2019}}</ref>

In June 2020, Brooks was named in the West Indies' Test squad, for their series against England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29258892/darren-bravo,-shimron-hetmyer,-keemo-paul-turn-call-ups-england-tour |title=Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul turn down call-ups for England tour |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> The Test series was originally scheduled to start in May 2020, but was moved back to July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windiescricket.com/news/squad-named-sandals-west-indies-tour-england/ |title=Squad named for Sandals West Indies Tour of England |work=Cricket West Indies |accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref>

In November 2021, Brooks was named in the West Indies' One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windiescricket.com/news/cwi-selection-panel-announces-squads-six-match-white-ball-tour-pakistan/ |title=CWI Selection Panel announces squads for six-match white ball tour of Pakistan |work=Cricket West Indies |access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref> He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut on 13 December 2021, for the West Indies against Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1287773.html |title=1st T20I (N), Karachi, Dec 13 2021, West Indies tour of Pakistan |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> In December 2021, he was named in the West Indies' ODI squad for their series against Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windiescricket.com/news/west-indies-name-squads-face-ireland-and-england-upcoming-white-ball-series/ |title=West Indies name squads to face Ireland and England in upcoming white-ball series |work=Cricket West Indies |access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> He made his ODI debut on 8 January 2022, for the West Indies against Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1277085.html |title=1st ODI, Kingston, Jan 8 2022, Ireland tour of United States of America and West Indies |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref>

On 4 June 2022, in the third and final match of the series against the Netherlands, Brooks scored his first century in ODI cricket, with 101 not out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-in-netherlands-2022-1302346/netherlands-vs-west-indies-3rd-odi-1302351/match-report |title=Mayers, Brooks centuries set up 3-0 whitewash for West Indies |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref>

In December 2022, Brooks replaced Nkrumah Bonner as a concussion substitute on day 3 of the first Test of West Indies tour of Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/watch-nkrumah-bonner-retires-hurt-after-being-hit-on-helmet-8301706/|title=Watch: Nkrumah Bonner retires hurt after being hit on helmet, Shamarh Brooks comes as concussion substitute|work=Indian Express |date=2 December 2022 |access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{cricinfo}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Sharmarh}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:West Indies Test cricketers Category:West Indies One Day International cricketers Category:West Indies Twenty20 International cricketers Category:Barbadian cricketers Category:Barbados cricketers Category:Cricketers from Saint Michael, Barbados Category:St Kitts and Nevis Patriots cricketers Category:Jamaica Tallawahs cricketers