Kemar Roach Becomes The Ninth West Indian Bowler To Clinch 200 Test Wickets

Kemar Roach was the chief destroyer of England’s first innings in the third Test at the Old Trafford in Manchester. By taking his third out of four wickets in the innings on the second day, Kemar Roach became the ninth West Indian bowler to cross 200 Test wickets. The series is currently locked at 1-1 with the West Indies winning the first and England bouncing back to win the second.

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By taking 200 scalps, Kemar Roach joined the elite class of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Lance Gibbs, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Gary Sobers, and Andy Roberts. Of these Courtney Walsh tops the list with 519 victims while Lance Gibbs is the only spin-bowler in this group. The last bowler to reach 200 Test wickets was Ambrose, ending a 26-year wait. Roach is also one short of equalling the wickets tally of Andy Roberts, who has 202 in 47 fixtures.

Chris Woakes was Kemar Roach’s 200th Test scalp:

Bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes turned out as the 32-year old’s 200th Test victim, who chopped on to the stumps for a single. On the first day, Roach was the threatening bowler, dismissing Dom Sibley in his first over for a duck. He later accounted for England’s star batsman Ben Stokes for 20 with a peach of an in-swinger.

Meanwhile, the hosts reached an imposing 369 after the West Indies struck with wickets of Ollie Pope earlier in the day.

Pope trudged back to the pavilion for 91 while Jos Buttler departed for 67 with England at 272-7. At that stage, England were looking at a total of 300; however, Stuart Broad’s whirlwind knock of 62 off 45 deliveries guided them to a respectable total.

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