BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Under-19 World Cup star Alzarri Joseph is hoping to use the upcoming WICB President’s XI match against South Africa as “another learning opportunity”.

The highly rated Antiguan will be one of the spearheads of the attack for the day/night 50-over game at the Queen’s Park Oval next Sunday, and says he was keen on testing his ability against the quality players in the Proteas line-up.

“I’m happy I’ve been given another chance to prove myself and also to learn more about the game and about bowling. For me it’s about learning as I go along,” Joseph said.

“What I’m hoping for is a good performance — a good, solid performance. I know I will be coming up against quality players, so I’m just focusing on what I have to do and how to go about my role in the team.

“I just look to work hard. Whenever I get an opportunity I’m just looking to take it. I’m taking things in strides and just want to learn with every game.”

The 19-year-old Joseph grabbed the headlines last year when he took a superb seven-wicket haul for Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the WICB PCL four-day tournament.

Subsequently, he was the best fast bowler in the ICC Under-19 World Cup with 13 wickets and continued to show improvement in the second half of the PCL earlier this year.

Joseph was also one of the net bowlers for the West Indies senior team’s camp here in preparation for the Tri-Nations Series, which bowls off in Guyana next Friday.

“I was happy to win the World Cup for the West Indies. That made us very proud, and we really appreciated all the kind words and sentiments we got from everyone who supported us,” he said.

“I returned home and I kept working. I haven’t changed much in my time in the nets. It’s about learning with every day. It was exciting to be in the nets with the West Indies team, and I got to see how the players prepare and get ready for international cricket.

“This was a good opportunity to bowl to quality batsmen and look to see the level I’m at this stage.”