Kemar Roach went past legendary Michael Holding’s tally of 249 wickets to become the 6th bowler from the country to go past the 250-mark.
Holding played 60 Test matches for West Indies, scalping 249 wickets at an economy rate of 2.85.
Kemar Roach had 249 wickets to his name when he started bowling for West Indies in the second innings of their ongoing ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh.
Roach took his tally to 252 after running through Bangladesh’s top order with a 3-wicket haul as the visitors slipped to 132/6, still trailing West Indies’s first-innings total by 42 runs at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia.
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal (4) was caught behind to give the pacer his 250th wicket.
Then, Roach went on to dismiss opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy (13) and Anamul Haque (4) to leave Bangladesh struggling on 32-3.
Roach is now only 7 wickets behind the tally of Joel Garner.
Soon after, Michael Holding sent a message to Kemar Roach, congratulating him on his 250th Test wicket. Here’s what he said:
“I want to send my heartiest congratulations to Kemar for getting to 250 mark and hence getting past my 249 wickets. What is more important and more impressive is the fact that he had been playing for so long.
Fast bowlers don’t usually extend their careers as long as he has, a few do yes, but he has been going now just about 13 years and obviously has quite a few more years in front of him if he so wishes,” Holding said.
“…hard work and especially for someone less than six-foot tall it has been a great career when he lost his pace, because he was initially frighteningly quick at times, he still could maintain the ability to take wickets, and that is so important.
When you have lost one asset you have to find other ways of doing your job and he has done that very well.” he concluded.
Reacting at the end of play on Day 3, Roach said,
“Fantastic to hear from the great man. Mikey (Holding), he has obviously been in contact with me when I was in England. We’ve talked a bit and he’s always tried to assess whenever you can.
So it’s good to hear those kind words from him, unfortunately had to pass them but obviously he set the benchmark extremely high and you know anyone surpassing him has done a fantastic job for the West Indies so I’m extremely proud and thanks to Mikey for his fantastic work as well for West Indies.”
Meanwhlie, Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop quoted the video posted by Cricket West Indies and commented on Twitter, says Kemar Roach has grown into a legend :
This is the hallmark of greatness. Michael Holding is forever a champion. Kemar has grown into a legend so beautifully. https://t.co/U3KLBH4zOP
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) June 27, 2022