BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Rookie West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach says he is looking forward to the challenge of bowling on the wickets in Sri Lanka, especially after having brushed up his skill during the recent training camp at 3Ws Oval.
“The pitches in Sri Lanka are quite flat but the ball tends to swing a bit,” said the 22-year-old who has taken 26 wickets in seven Tests.
“If you can get it right as a fast bowler, you can be quite successful. I have been working on swinging the ball with the coach (Ottis Gibson). I still have a little bit of work to do on my lengths, but I’m satisfied with what I got out of the camp.
“It will be challenging but I’m willing to take on the challenge and do what the captain wants me to do and what is required to help the team.”
West Indies left here in two groups on Thursday and Friday for Sri Lanka where they will play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a single Twenty20 International.
Roach is expected to play a key role in the Test series where, despite his inexperience, he will be expected to spearhead the pace attack which includes Nelon Pascal who has played one Test, and the uncapped Jamaican Andre Russell.
The slippery Barbadian said the training camp had been crucial in preparing him for what was expected to be a tough tour of the subcontinent.
“I believe I have prepared well and I’m excited about the possibilities as I look ahead to this tour,” Roach said.
“We had a good camp in Barbados and we did some hard work … it was a lot of hard work but I enjoyed every moment of it. It was good preparation, the ideal kind of preparation for a tour like this.”
West Indies will open the tour with a three-day game beginning next Wednesday before clashing in the first Test starting November 15 in Galle.
