Kemar Roach ever since his debut has been flying under the radar for West Indies. He is not the typical tall West Indies bowler from the 90s but what he lacks in height, he makes up for with a tight action and a fast arm that allows him to break the 85mph barrier regularly. Kemar is an attacking, wicket-taking bowler and nobody has taken more five-wicket hauls in Tests for West Indies since he came into the side in 2009.
Since 2017, Kemar Roach has been a lynchpin of the West Indies attack including being the leading West Indies wicket-taker in Tests in 2019. Roach’s Test career began with a bang when he was selected against Bangladesh in St Vincent and the 37 year old was sidelined for the last few series and had to be brought in after injuries to Joseph has made a mark once again. He delivered yet again with both bat and ball for West Indies at the age of 37.
Roach survived 233 balls en route to his unbeaten 58 (8 fours). This is the fourth-highest fourth-innings score by a WI batter operating at eight or lower. However, each of the three batters above Roach on this list played their knocks in home Tests.
Moreover, Roach became the first batter to survive over 200 balls in the fourth innings while batting at eight or lower. Kemar Roach also became the oldest West Indies bowler to take a five-for since Courtney Walsh took 6-61 against South Africa in 2001.
Roach’s maiden Test fifty has taken his tally to 1,354 runs from 86 games at 12.53. His previous best Test score was 47 against Bangladesh last year. With the ball, the pacer claimed a fifer in the third innings of the game.
The 37-year-old pacer claimed two wickets in his first outing as well. Roach has raced to 291 wickets at a fine average of 26.98. This includes 14 four-wicket hauls and 12 fifers. Kemar Roach has represented West Indies in 85 Tests and 95 ODIs while playing 11 T20I matches. Kemar Roach has been flying under the radar but this new spring of effort has won him praises from all around the world.
