The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Roach runs riot as England are blown away
England were routed by Kemar Roach in Barbados yesterday, blown away for 77 as 18 wickets fell on day two of a remarkable first Test against the West Indies.
Nostalgia for the halcyon days of Caribbean cricket is equal parts inspiration and burden for the current generation, but this was a classic display of fast bowling worthy of its place in the pantheon.
England, memorably skittled for 46 in Trinidad in 1994 and 51 in Jamaica a decade ago, added a third famous collapse on these islands as they tumbled to the lowest ever Test total at the storied Kensington Oval.
The hosts declined to enforce the follow-on and ended the day 339 ahead on 127 for six after Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali led a spirited but seemingly forlorn fightback with the ball.
Ten months have passed since England’s last batting debacle, 58 all out in New Zealand, and although six of the team have changed since that humiliation the fragility of a batting line-up lauded for its depth was all too familiar.
Following in the footsteps of Curtly Ambrose at Port-of-Spain and Jerome Taylor at Kingston, Roach played the role of destroyer with figures of five for 17.
Roaring in from the Joel Garner End with considerably more ferocity than the speed gun gave him credit for – 85mph was his top recorded pace – he wiped out Rory Burns, Jonny Bairstow, Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen in a glorious spell after lunch.
After an exploratory stint with the new ball, the 30-year-old’s second burst saw him wreak havoc across eight overs – with each of his wickets concentrated in the space of 27 deliveries.
Roach, who took five for 17, told Sky Sports: “It is a good day for us, a lead of over 300.
“It toughened up a little bit for the batsmen. It is a bit jumpy, uneven, but the aim is to get the batsmen playing as much as possible and bring them forward.
“The ball came out well, I am happy with my performance today.”
The day had started with England taking the last two first-innings wickets for 25, James Anderson completing his 27th five-wicket haul to equal Sir Ian Botham’s England record.