When Kemar Roach scores his run in the second Test against Bangladesh, which begins at the Darren Sammy Stadium on Friday, he will do so knowing that he will be just one wicket short of joining a very select group of West Indies bowlers. Is.
The 33-year-old Barbadian pacer goes into Tests with 249 wickets to his name, similar to the legendary Michael Holding of the 1970s and 80s.
Courtney Walsh (519 wickets), Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376), Lance Gibbs (309) and Joel Garner (259).
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After returning match figures of seven for 74 to guide West Indies to a seven-wicket victory in the first Test in Antigua, Roach admitted he was targeting 300 Test wickets.
“I’m always one for stats,” he told the press after the match.
“I love my stats. I always watch my stats. Every night. Even though I’m not playing, I still watch my stats so it’s good to be among the greats.
“Great to be there with all the wonderful people in West Indies cricket.”
Roach and his teammates will take a lot of confidence from their victory in the first Test after their 1-0 series win at home against England in March.
Another win would not only secure the series but also propel West Indies to sixth place above Pakistan World Test Championship.
In Antigua, Roach had a good back-up from Jaden Seals, who took three for 33 in the first innings, and Alzarri Joseph, who took three wickets in each innings.
Captain Craig Brathwaite set the tone for the batsmen with 94 runs in the first innings, although being dismissed for 265 by four for 224 shows that there is some work to be done as well.
Bangladesh’s batting, on the other hand, was weak with the top order, especially Najmul Hossain and Mominul Haque completely out of form.
His first innings of 103 in Antigua, which included six ducks, was the fifth time in 12 complete innings this year that he was dismissed for less than 200.
Despite a more respectable 245 in the second innings, it meant he was on the backfoot for the entire game.
Mominul has had a particularly difficult time: his scores of 0s and 4s made him the first top-five batsman since George Bonner, whose Test career ended in 1888, scoring nine consecutive single-digit scores.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said after the first Test, ‘If he feels he needs a break, then it can happen.
He is likely to remain in place with no clear replacement, although Anamul Haq could be drafted at the expense of Najmul.
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