Roach wants to be world’s number one bowler

Gros Islet, St Lucia – Kemar Roach has set a high target for himself after completing his first five-wicket haul of the year. Roach ripped through the Bangladesh batting line-up on the second day in St Lucia, leaving West Indies 13 wickets away from completing a 2-0 sweep.

Kemar Roach
Kemar Roach

“I want to get to No. 1 in the world,” Roach said. “So I am trying to take steps towards that and obviously keep taking wickets, keep moving up the rankings and keep helping West Indies win games.

“It feels good on a bowler-friendly wicket to hit the straps early. Getting some wickets against the Bangladeshis is a good feeling for me and for the West Indies as well. We have seven wickets so far and hopefully we can come on tomorrow (yesterday) and finish the game.”

Roach’s 5 for 33 was his sixth five-wicket haul and it made him West Indies’ highest wicket-taker this year. He is currently ranked No. 10 in Test cricket, the highest place among West Indies bowlers.

Roach had also claimed four second-innings wickets during the first Test, triggering Bangladesh’s final day collapse in a period when the visitors were beginning to look promising. On Sunday, Roach pitched the ball slightly fuller than good length. The bouncer was his key delivery, mainly due to the Bangladesh batsmen’s unease against this particular length. Roach said though the pitches in St Lucia and St Vincent were different, it did not affect the way the two teams played.

“This pitch was much-more bowler-friendly. Much more bounce in the wicket, the ball seaming around early on. The wicket in St Vincent was flat, very hard to bowl on and the guys, once they got set, it was hard to get them out. But here, they all gave chances with the ball. I was trying to be consistent on the good length outside off stump with the occasional bumper. They help you get rewards.

“I tried to break out of the box today. The guys are not very friendly to short-bowling. I used it, set the batsmen back and set them up. I have been in good form for the last couple of months and I am going to take it on from there and take it on to further series.”

Roach also paid tribute to West Indies’ bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose, who is often seen during matches ambling across to fine leg and speaking to the likes of Roach, Jerome Taylor and Shannon Gabriel.

“As a legend of the game, it’s great to have him around. He’s very skillful and knowledgeable about the bowling,” Roach said. “He helps us a lot when it comes to line and length in our bowling, so I must give credit to him as well. He tells us stories from back in the day and it is good for us youngsters to have someone like him around.” (Cricinfo)