– Roach

CMC – LONG-serving pacer Kemar Roach said performances from players such as Shamar Joseph and Kevin Sinclair on the Tour of Australia convinced him that West Indies are capable of greatness in the future, but they need more opportunities to play the sport’s longest format.

The Caribbean side were 13 for one in their second innings at the close on the second day of the day-night second Test at the Gabba with an overall lead of 35 and a huge opportunity to build a winning position in the match on the third day.

Roach ended with three for 47 from 11 overs and shared seven wickets with new ball partner Alzarri Joseph to earn West Indies 22-run, first innings lead when Australia declared on 289 for nine about 15 minutes before the scheduled close.

“Cricket in the West Indies is still in good stead,” Roach told reporters at a post-play news conference, reflecting on the performance of off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair, whose even 50 helped the visitors extend their first innings past the day’s first drinks break after they resumed from their overnight total of 266 for eight.

Roach echoed the sentiments of head coach Andre Coley, captain Kraigg Brathwaite, and wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva before him that West Indies were being starved of Test matches and more was required for many of young players on the trip to improve and become more competitive on the international stage.

“It is interesting,” Roach said, when asked if he wanted to see Australia make a full tour of the Caribbean in the near future. “We have not had a full Test tour in a long time. I think England is our biggest series, and we only play three Tests.

“I don’t know… that will be up to the ICC. They are in control of the [schedule], but it will be great for us as a nation to get some more Test matches. I think there is a big disparity between who gets the most and who gets the least, and it can even out now.

“It’s 2024 and things have to change. Cricket is evolving, and I think that all nations that participate in Tests should have the opportunity to have full series.”

He added: “You have seen the fight [from us]. I think as a batting unit to get 300 runs against a top-quality bowling line up… and to almost bowl them out under the runs, it shows there is quality in the team, and if you play more, you gain more experience and you will get a stronger team.

“We have earned the right to be in Tests, and we need to be playing more, that’s it, that’s how you get better. The teams that play the most [matches] are the best teams in the world.”

West Indies embarked on the trip with seven uncapped players, and Roach said he was not totally surprised by the way some of them have equipped themselves so far and was thrilled that the rest of the world was getting to know about them during the series.

“There was always going to be a surprising factor about this team because most people don’t know many of them,” he said. “I keep telling them enjoy it as much as you can and keep expressing yourself, it’s going to be a tough tour, but Test matches are always tough. If you can enjoy it as much as you can, who knows, today can be your day.”

Friday turned out to be a morale-boosting day for West Indies.