CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, CMC – Veteran seamer Kemar Roach says he is anticipating hard work on the flat pitches here during the upcoming two-Test series, and says West Indies’ batsmen are also bracing for a difficult time on surfaces expected to be spin-friendly.
West Indies endured a taste of conditions expected in the Test series when they faced Bangladesh in a three-match one-day series which finished last Monday, with the hosts completing a 3-0 whitewash.
Roach, who did not feature in the one-day series, said the touring side’s pacers already knew what awaited them in the longer version.
“It is hard work for fast bowlers down here. The pitches aren’t conducive to speed or any seam movement,” Roach told reporters.
“So it’s all about being consistent, putting the ball in the right areas and that is a pretty straight line, challenging the batsmen on the front foot – that’s mainly what your best chances are to succeeding in Bangladesh.
“[You have to] work on the ball as hard as you can, trying to get the ball to reverse as early as you can to trouble the middle order.
“There’s a lot that goes into it, a lot of planning that needs to be done, a lot of execution that needs to be done but it’s all about being consistent and believing in yourself and putting up a good fight. “My work is cut out – I’m very, very sure about that but I’m looking forward to it.”
Roach will spearhead West Indies’ seam attack which also includes fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Raymon Reifer.
The 32-year-old Barbadian became only the ninth West Indies bowler to reach 200 Test wickets last July and has since overtaken Sir Andy Roberts to be eighth on the all-time list with 204 scalps from 60 matches.
West Indies are without fast-bowling all-rounder and captain Jason Holder, and off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase, both of whom have been successful in recent times.
Despite these absences, Roach backed the bowling department to deliver with their current resources on tour.
“[We are] always under pressure to perform. We have to do what we know we can do,” he stressed.
“I think Shannon is in a good run of form right now, I’ve been doing OK myself so it’s all about us trying to get our best performances down here. The team is pretty inexperienced but I think there is enough to get us over the line.
“So as I said, it’s all about us believing in ourselves, backing our ability and getting the job done. I’m looking forward to a good Test series and I’m sure we can pull one out of the hat.”
West Indies have been hardest hit in the batting department where the likes of Holder, Chase, Shamarh Brooks, Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer all declined selection for the series.
Their decision not to tour has left interim captain Kraigg Brathwaite, vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood, along with the inexperienced John Campbell and Joshua Da Silva, to carry the burden of run-scoring.
According to Roach, much of the focus of preparations in recent weeks, had been on readying the batting group for the hosts’ quality spin attack.
“I can definitely say the batsmen have been doing a lot of work with regards to spin,” Roach pointed out.
“They’ve been listening and they’ve been asking questions on how to improve, and I’m pretty happy with what I’m seeing. Obviously it’s just about waiting to see how they perform on the field but I’m sure they’ll go well.
“But I can definitely say the guys have been putting in the extra work when it comes to the spin department, and playing spin well and trying to get that stride in and using your feet and sweeping and stuff [like that].
“I’ve seen an improvement in the ways the guys have worked since they got down here. They’re working a little bit smarter so I hope for them that they get some good results in this Test series and obviously try to win a game for West Indies.”
West Indies face Bangladesh in the opening Test starting February 3 at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here.
