Michael Holding praises Kemar Roach for reaching 250 Test wickets

West Indies star Kemar Roach has surpassed Michael Holding's tally of 249 Test wickets to reach a landmark number of 250. Currently playing for the West Indies in the second and final Test against Bangladesh, Roach has achieved this feat in his 73rd red-ball game.

One of the game's legends, Holding's 249 scalps, came in 60 Tests between 1975 and 1987. Roach is now the country's sixth highest-wicket taker in Tests, behind Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Lance Gibbs, and Joel Garner.

Holding congratulated the 33-year-old for surpassing his tally in a video to CWI and praised him for his longevity and hard work.

Holding said, "I want to send my heartiest congratulations to Kemar for getting to 250 mark and hence getting past my mark of 249 wickets. What is more important and more impressive is the fact that he had been playing for so long. Fast bowlers don't usually extend their careers as long as he has, a few do yes, but he has been going now just about 13 years and obviously has quite a few more years in front of him if he so wishes.

"It is hard work, and especially for someone less than six-foot tall, it has been a great career when he lost his pace because he was quick initially, frighteningly quick at times, he still could maintain the ability to take wickets, and that is so important. When you have lost one asset, you have to find other ways of doing your job, and he has done that very well".

Roach, who claimed three wickets in the second innings of the St Lucia Test, thanked the 68-year-old after the end of play on Day 3.

"Fantastic to hear from the great man. Mikey, he has obviously been in contact with me when I was in England. We've talked a bit, and he's always tried to assess whenever you can.

"So it's good to hear those kind words from him, unfortunately had to pass them but obviously he set the benchmark extremely high and you know anyone surpassing him has done a fantastic job for the West Indies so I'm extremely proud and thanks to Mikey for his fantastic work as well for West Indies," Roach said.

The right-handed bowler was the player of the match in the first Test in Antigua, which West Indies won comfortably, and he picked up seven wickets.

Bangladesh still trails the Windies by 42 runs in the second innings of the final Test, with six wickets down and two days remaining.