Green top at Hobart excites West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach
In what would be signs of Spring, after what had been a frozen winter for West Indies Cricket, the pitch at the Bellerive Oval, four days prior to the start of the first Test between West Indies and Australia, appears to be a green top – much to the delight of the Caribbean pacer Kemar Roach,reports ESPNCricinfo.
Notwithstanding their woes, that include a humiliating loss against a novice Australian first-class side, the West Indies have a penetrative bowling attack with Jerome Taylor spearheading it for quite some time now. This pitch looks to be a massive opening for the beleagured side, as their batsmen have found it tough, almost everywhere, to score runs.
Taylor has been in fine form, and that was evident the last time these two sides played each other back in the West Indies. Roach has had some fond memories of Australia too, where in 2009, at the WACA Ground, when he troubled one of the all-time greats, Ricky Ponting.
"Of course, there aren't many wickets in the world like that, so it's good to see that for a change. I'm pretty excited to get a go on Thursday," Roach said of the pitch.
"Yeah I think so [it will still be green on Thursday]. I know Australians play very hard cricket and they believe in what they do, so that's what they give us, and that's what we're going to take.”
This statement from Roach, comes as a significant departure from the ongoing pitch debate, where home sides are accused of preparing doctored wickets. Here is a fast bowler ready to accept what’s been provided, and play with it.
He added further, “There's some very good fast bowlers in our group, our job is to go out there and give it our best shot. Jerome Taylor has been leading the attack very well, he's in good form, one of the fastest bowlers in the world Shannon Gabriel, and then myself. And Jason Holder the captain has been good as well. I think we can give the Australians some trouble.”
West Indies must draw inpiration from their fast bowler’s words, who looks focused to take on the Aussie challenge, especially in the face of the adversities that they have faced in the recent past.
On the spell to Ponting, where the former Australian captain was troubled with the steep bounce that Roach extracted, he has some words of satisfaction.
"It was good memories, Ricky Ponting was a great batsman for Australia, and to go out there and give him a hard time at the crease was a good thing for me at a young age," he said.
He also admitted that things have changed since 2009, and injuries have set him back a bit, and he fully acknowledges it.
"But I'm here and there's a reason I'm here, the selectors have put their faith in me to come down here and do the job. I believe in myself as well, so given a go on Thursday I'll go out there and give it my best shot.”
On Phil Simmons’ controversial departure and reinstatement, Roach showed full faith in the coach, and said that his return had a ‘positive effect’ on the team.
"I think Phil Simmons is a great coach," Roach said. "I like him around, he has been working with the guys very well, he has a comfortable dressing room, and that's what most guys need to perform, once they're comfortable then there's no other reason you can't perform.”
The underdog tag has now been placed on the West Indies, with their dilapidated performances in the recent past – their last Test victory came against England in May, and they haven’t won a Test series in over a year – but Roach his optimistic.
"I love being the underdogs. If we can come out on top then it's going to be a whole different story, they will change their mouths, I think we've got to go out there, do the best that we can and give Australia a good run.”