'Build your own legacy' - Kemar Roach warns Shamar Joseph of franchise cricket distractions

West Indies pacer Kemar Roach provided valuable advice to emerging talent Shamar Joseph after his remarkable debut against Australia in the first Test of the two-match series. Kemar Roach encouraged Shamar Joseph to “build his own legacy” in red-ball cricket.

Shamar Joseph claimed five wickets in Australia’s first innings in the series opener in Adelaide. Joseph dismissed Steve Smith with the very first delivery of his Test career. He (5/94) went on to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, and Nathan Lyon.

The West Indies team was bowled out for just 188 runs in the first innings. The Windies team could only score 120 runs in the second innings of the match. Australia successfully chased down the target of 26 runs with 10 wickets in hand to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

I Can Advice Shamar Joseph Build His Own Legacy – Kemar Roach

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Kemar Roach advised Shamar Joseph to focus on building his own legacy in cricket. Roach acknowledged the distractions from T20 franchises, but highlighted that many Caribbean players still cherish Test cricket.

“The best advice I can give him is to build his own legacy. Understand what you want from cricket. That’s up to him to determine, if it’s monetary, or if it’s just stats and statistics or whatever,” Roach told reporters.

“There’s going to be a lot of distractions… he’s a hot commodity right now. So he needs to choose what he really wants and what he thinks is best for his career going forward. So it’s up to him, as a young man, but I definitely give him that advice,” he added.

West Indies all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers opted to skip the series against Australia in favor of participating in the lucrative IL20. There is growing concern within the cricketing community regarding the future of West Indies cricket in red-ball cricket.

I Had That When I Started – Kemar Roach

Kemar Roach expressed his desire to mentor young players, citing his own experience with mentors like Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, and Fidel Edwards. Roach emphasized the importance of passing on knowledge to the next generation, especially Shamar Joseph.

“I had that when I started. Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards [were] some guys around to help me when I started my career. I took knowledge and learning from it. So obviously for me now, it’s all about passing on the mantle now to the youngsters,” Roach further stated.

“He’s got a very good career ahead of him. At this stage, he’s willing to learn. We have a lot of conversations. So, I think once he keeps doing that, not just coming from me but anyone who he thinks can help him in his career, he can take a lot of knowledge on board and become a better cricketer.”

Kemar Roach, the fifth-highest Test wicket-taker in West Indies history, has taken 267 wickets in 80 matches. The right-arm fast bowler has an average of 27.78, with notable achievements including 11 five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/48 in an innings.

The upcoming second Test match between Australia and the West Indies is scheduled to be a Day/Night pink-ball fixture. The match is set to be played in Brisbane on Thursday, January 25.

Also read: Kemar Roach Expresses Concerns Over Future Of Test Cricket; Says Love For Longest Format In Next Generation Is Already Gone