RAJKOT: The West Indies have been dealt a serious blow even before a ball has been bowled in what is likely to be a tough Two-Test series against India.
READ ALSO: Bat like you do for Mumbai, Rahane tells PrithviKemar Roach, their leading pacer, will miss the opening Test at the SCA Stadium here as he has been forced to fly back to Barbados following the death of his grandmother. He will re-join the squad midway through the first Test beginning here on Thursday.
"Unfortunately, Kemar is not back in the country yet, he had a bereavement in the family, he has had to go home to tend to the process back in Barbados. He will be rejoining the squad halfway through the Test, he should be back in the country and ready to go for the second Test which is a shame. Roach is very experienced, has great skill, and he is one of our leaders in our group so he is a big loss," rued West Indies coach
Stuart Law here on Tuesday.
Roach has played 48 Tests, in which he's taken 163 wickets at 28.31. In July, he had taken five wickets in just 12 balls at the
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
in North Sound, Antigua, to send Bangladesh crashing to 43 all out - the lowest total in Test cricket in the last 44 years. It was his eighth five-wicket haul. The Caribbeans are set to miss both his experience and pace on what is likely to be a fairly grassy track here. The 30-year-old's presence here would also have provided the Indian batsmen with some valuable practice against at least one quality fast bowler ahead of the tour to Australia in the winter.
Putting up a brave face, Law hoped that the other pacers,
Shannon Gabriel (37 Tests), captain
Jason Holder (34),
Keemo Paul (1) and the uncapped
Sherman Lewis, who replaced the injured Alzzarri Joseph, would stand up to be counted here.
"Gabriel has been outstanding in the last couple of Tests in pretty similar conditions," Law said.