Kemar Roach has exceptional influence on all young pacers: Phil Simmons

Senior West Indies pacer Kemar Roach completed his 250th Test scalp in the just-concluded second game against Bangladesh at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. The Windies went on to win the contest comprehensively by 10 wickets to not only seal the series 2-0 but also add some valuable ICC World Test Championship points to their tally.

Lauding his feat, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has said that Roach is helping the fast bowlers to mature quickly by guiding them through his experience. At the same time, Simmons has also mentioned that the senior speedster has succeeded in influencing all the young fast bowlers. Kemar Roach has been a part of the West Indies unit since 2008.

He has taken his role as the senior pro very seriously: Phil Simmons on Kemar Roach

“(Roach) is helping the fast bowlers to mature quicker. I think he has an exceptional influence on all the young fast bowlers. He has taken his role as the senior pro very seriously. It shows on the field. You can see him talking to them, who are trying to do the right things all the time. I think his influence has been massive to these young fast bowlers”, said Phil Simmons as quoted by Cricbuzz.

In the two matches that were played on slow wickets, Kemar Roach finished with 10 scalps to his name. While he went wicketless in the first innings, Roach managed to pick up three wickets in the all-important second innings which ensured that the Windies only had to score 13 runs to win the Test match and sweep the series.

By virtue of his 250th Test scalp, Kemar Roach also surpassed the legendary Michael Holding who took 249 wickets in the longest format in the 60 matches that he played between 1975 and 1987. Roach achieved this feat when he had veteran Bangladesh batter, Tamim Iqbal caught behind by Joshua Da Silva in the second innings.