I love to be amongst the great: Kemar Roach

West Indies are currently playing against Bangladesh at Antigua in the first Test and Kemar Roach has been splendid for the hosts. 

West Indian legends Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop were at the commentary box during the match and stated that Roach deserves far more respect than he gets now.

''He should get 300 Test wickets,'' stated Ambrose on quite a few occasions while Bishop backed his claim as well. The claims were made after the right-arm fast bowler picked up 7 wickets in the match, including a fiver. Roach has now picked up 249 Test wickets and equalled West Indian legendary speedster Michael Holding’s record as well.

''Proud man (to equal Michael Holding),'' Roach, who scalped his 10th five-for in the game, said after the end of the play. 

However, he also stated that reaching the milestone of 300 wickets is something that he wants to achieve in the next two to three years. ''300 wickets is something that I will try to get in two-three years,'' he said.

“Obviously he is one of the legends of the game and to equal him just goes to show I am pretty much up there. It's a good feeling and obviously you wanna keep going as much you can and I got some more wickets in me I definitely have,'' he said ''Stats man, stats (keep me going) and money too but stats definitely keep me going and I love to be amongst the great. Put my name up there and obviously in history and so therefore that what I am going for,'' he further added.

Roach had his own share of struggles and according to the experts sitting on the commentary box, he had to compromise on multiple fronts after his injury in 2017. Roach still managed to perform at a high level as he developed other skills to compete in modern-day cricket. Notably, he had to compromise his pace after the injury in 2017 and it was during that time when he developed the skill of bowling from round the wicket to the left-handers.

''I lost my pace because of my injury( in 2017) and I was in for skill with lot of hard work and lot of consistent bowling obviously want to get where you want to be in your career. It's actually good to see the result,'' he said, claiming that it was in England when he first tried to go round the wicket.

“That( going round the wicket) turned out to be in England in 2017 and I had a discussion in the nets and want to go around the wicket in the nets to change the angle and I get that shape on the ball and it worked since that and I got a lot of wicket from that and become better with that I am pretty happy with it,'' he further said.

For Kemar Roach, Antigua is quite lucky as he picked up his 50th Test wicket there and has been in sublime form in the ongoing Test against Bangladesh.

''Well for me it is an open ground and you always get that sideways movement. There is a strong breeze and it just works for me. I had some good success as I said in Antigua. There is a lot of movement and the open field that we have and I am happy. I like being in Antigua and people are nice and hopefully, the prime minister can give me a passport,'' he expressed.

Roach has also added that he decided to bowl straighter as he felt that was the best way forward against Bangladesh in the second innings while adding that they had to be patient when things were not going according to their plan. Meanwhile, the visitors had already lost four wickets in the opening session and an innings defeat was very much on the cards for them before Shakib al Hasan and Nurul Hasan steadied the ship.

However, Kemar Roach had different plans after getting the new ball and he removed both the set batters to ensure his side is back in a comfortable position. Notably, he bowled Ebadat Hossain to claim his tenth five-for in Tests as Bangladesh were bundled out for 245.

''I had a conversation with Roddy [Estwick] the bowling coach and that let me go straight as it will be easier. It was just about keeping up the body language and keep creating chances because there will be time when you are punished. Coming up after lunch the ball was soft and we tried to be as much patient as we can because we always knew that once we get the new ball something gonna happen. It's a great feeling and fantastic unit and the guys are obviously learning and they work hard and they ask questions and they are committed. I love being around with the guys and hopefully play as long as I can,'' he concluded.