COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Rookie speedster Kemar Roach says he is not deterred in any way by having to spearhead the West Indies bowling attack against Sri Lanka.
“I am doing much more with the ball now and I’m working hard to get things right,” said the 22-year-old who has played just eight Tests.
“I am the main fast bowler in the side at the moment so I have to accept that responsibility. It’s hard work here in Sri Lanka.”
Roach bowled with pace and movement to capture two of the first three Sri Lanka wickets to fall, as the hosts reached 84 for three on a rain-hit opening day of the second Test after winning the toss and batting first.
The right-armer bowled Tillakaratne Dilshan (4) with a fast delivery that straightened and also had the other opener Tharanga Paranavitana (16) caught at second slip by Dwayne Bravo moving to his left.
Dilshan’s dismissal was the second time in as many innings that Roach had nabbed the right-hander.
“He seems to have a little problem with the ball when it’s straight and fast so I have been trying to exploit that weakness,” Roach said.
“This is the second time I got him bowled down with a full, straight ball and again it happened today.”
Roach, who made his international debut last year in a weakened side against Bangladesh in the Caribbean, has already taken 33 wickets and said he was continuing to improve.
“I’m sticking to the basics and getting the results. The ball has been coming out really well so far this series,” the Barbadian said.
“I have been doing a lot of work with the coach and I have been talking a lot with the captain and they have been giving me some very good advice.
“The pitch did a lot today, it is not a quick pitch but I was getting some extra bounce so I knew once I hit my ‘areas’ I would cause some problems. I got those two wickets and gave is a very good start.”
