HIS Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali welcomed West Indies hero pacer Shamar Joseph home with a special dinner on Thursday evening at State House.

The 24-year-old has been the talk of the cricketing world after his fierce spell of fast bowling dismantled Test World Champions Australia.

The match, at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba), was the first West Indies Test victory on Australian soil since 1997 and Joseph, the young Guyanese fast bowler, was its architect as he finished with 7-68 in the second innings, despite playing with a toe injury.

Joseph, who arrived in Guyana on Thursday afternoon, was given a hero’s welcome at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

At State House, he was joined by members of his family and members of the Guyana Cricket Board.