Kemar Roach

Having begun his career as an express pace bowler, skiddy and uncomfortable for any batter to face, Kemar Roach has entered his late-30s looking like a very different sort of bowler, but still one with plenty to offer for the West Indian Test team.

Now amongst the most experienced players in an outfit that is trying to re-establish itself on the red ball calendar, Roach’s long career has seen ups and downs, but the Barbadian will now feel the need to guide the team’s next generation of quicks. He continues to figure in the red ball team, recently playing against South Africa in their Test series in 2024.

Early career and breakthrough

Kemar Roach was asked to join the West Indian national camp just a few days short of his 20th birthday, as part of the squad to play Australia, after only 4 First Class matches in his young career. Roach stood at just about 5 and a half feet tall, and therefore wasn’t the typical mould of a West Indian pacer. Despite not having the height of the Michael Holdings or Curtly Ambroses of the past, Roach had already shown the ability to touch 150 kmph, and it was an opportunity the Windies couldn’t let go.

His debut would be in the T20 format, with that version of the sport still in its infancy, meaning it was Kemar Roach’s first professional 20-over game. He gave a good account of himself with 2 wickets in debut.

His Test debut would only arrive in 2009, as part of a travelling squad to Bangladesh with as many as 9 uncapped Windies players. His impact with the red ball was immediate as he finished as the Windies’ highest wicket-taker in both the Test and ODI series.

Establishing his spot

Given this chance in his favoured format, Kemar Roach hung onto it by impressing the selectors and getting chosen for the series in Australia later that year, where he famously struck Ricky Ponting in the Perth Test and forced the Aussie captain to retire hurt.

Kemar Roach has gone on to represent the Windies nearly 200 times since, with over 400 wickets to his name.

Post-injury

However, Roach’s career wouldn’t be without some setbacks. An ankle injury in 2014 saw his form and speed fall, and he was dropped from the West Indian squad during a turbulent time in the following years.

Nevertheless, Roach would reform himself as a bowler who focused more on swing and seam movement, something he developed domestically in the Windies and also through spells with Surrey in the English County Championship.

Kemar Roach continues to be one of the more important bowlers for the Windies, supported by an exciting upcoming group of seamers such as Shamar Joseph.