Five for Roach as Windies warm up
ESSEX v WEST INDIES
WITH the first Test against England less than two weeks today, West Indies’ bowlers got the feel of taking wickets as they ran through Essex in a tour match at Chelmsford.
In a game where weather prevented play on regular occasions, Kemar Roach was the tourists’ star bowler taking 5-43 as the hosts declared on 185-9, Paul Walter with an unbeaten 68. This after Roston Chase hit 81 as West Indies made 338-8 declared in their first innings.
But all the talk was about Roach, who last played Test cricket in January 2016. He has since shone in the Professional Cricket League, West Indies’ first-class tournament, where he took 23 wickets at 16.17 for Barbados.
Roach said: “I’m looking to make the ball go both ways. I always had it in me, but I need to perfect it even more and I’ve been working hard on that. The line and length was spot on. That’s where I wanted to be. I want to keep working and building on that.
“Test cricket is the biggest form of cricket, and I’ve been working hard and I want things to be right back here. So I’m going to go there, help the young guys in the team and put in some good performances.”
West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite made 61 with the bat, while Jermaine Blackwood also impressed with 59 off 70 deliveries. Callum Taylor was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-44.
Brathwaite said: “I was pleased with my knock. It’s a good start to the tour, but we had to make sure we stuck to our disciplines with both bat and ball.
“Jermaine Blackwood batted very well. I enjoyed my partnership with him but we need to keep learning and we will accustom to these conditions.
“It’s very different to back home in the Caribbean, and one of the key things is playing the ball as late as possible.You’re never in but you just need to knuckle down and you can make big scores.”
Aron Nijjar was Essex’s second top-scorer with 30, though nobody in the top five passed 16, and it was actually a good recovery having been 56-6 at one stage. Miguel Cummins also impressed with the ball for the Windies, with 2-43.