Never ever forget

“Kemar has been excellent for West Indies and we had the conversation with him; and we spoke to him and we let him know the direction that we wanted to go.

“It was no slight on what he has done for West Indies cricket, but again, we are planning World Test Championship 2027 on to 2029 and at some point, we have to be able to really put down some markers that we have planning for the future,” Bascombe said.

“It wasn’t the easiest of conversations to have; and it’s difficult in one breath to tell someone that you’re moving on, but in the same breath try to get them to understand that it’s no slight on their contribution to West Indies cricket.

“But like I said, I just wanted to ensure that we had that conversation out of respect for what he did. So, myself, the head coach, we were part of that discussion, but I think that at some point we had to move on and at the start of a new Test Championship is as good a time as any,” he added.

Im glad roach came back and did well, but we weren't missing him. If a full strength bowling line up comes again, we hit the same issue. Seals and the 2 Joseph's are potentially one of our best lineups, where does roach fit?

Hes slower and for the most part a good new ball bowler that usually doesnt do well overseas, should he really take the place of one of the 3?

With those 3 a spot in the squad should go to a younger player they're trying to blood.

I want roach to have a place but im not sure where

@conman

"Usually doesn't do well overseas"....but wasn't the statement made when we were about to play Oz in Barbados....where he has been stellar. And didn't we select Warrican for a green top and hardly bowl him, and in the next match select a largely ineffective medium pacer Phillip?

Also given the frequent injuries to the Josephs couldnt a bowler like Roach reduce their workload both by rotation and by virtue of the fact he is able to bowl long spells?

Yes, Shemar and Alzarri are fine bowlers, especially the former. Jayden Seales is an excellent young pacer and the future of the pace attack looks strong with those three around. However, with the schedules being how they are, many of the test matches are crammed into short windows, resulting in these back-to-back matches which are demanding on all of the players but probably more so on the quicks. Hence why Roach needs to be kept around whilst he is still performing at such a high level. His experience will help the others too.

If you are naming a test squad with five quicks, Roach should certainly be one of them.

@4REALQUICKS

Especially at home.

What a lot of people forget is that Roach can also bat and I was pleased to finally see him get his maiden test half century. His experience was essential in the West Indies drawing the first test in New Zealand. Greaves who batted very well, had a solid batting partner in Roach who ensured that he reached that milestone. Also, Roach is in the top ten all time W.I wicket takers in tests, with 284 wickets in 86 matches. His maturity as a cricketer is something needed in this young team and should not be taken for granted.