Kemar Roach set to be available for 2nd Test against India

The pacer had missed the first Test because of a bereavement in the family.

Kemar Roach's absence was felt by the West Indies in the first Test in Rajkot.

A couple of days before the first Test got underway at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here, West Indies suffered a blow as its pace ace, Kemar Roach, flew back home after the death of his grandmother.

While West Indies coach, Stuart Law, had said that Roach will join the team mid-way through the first Test in Rajkot, that did not happen, raising speculations on whether he will eventually be available for the second Test.

But putting speculations to rest, Law confirmed to 

Sportstar  Monday that Roach checked in at Hyderabad late on Sunday and is set to be available for the second Test.

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“Roach is currently is resting up in Hyderabad. He reached India yesterday and has straightaway gone to Hyderabad rather than coming here for a day and then flying out with the team,” Law said.

The Australian, who will quit as the coach of West Indies after the tours to India and Bangladesh, also made it clear that Roach’s inclusion will add spice to the Caribbean pace attack, which appeared rather toothless in the first Test. “To have someone of his (Roach’s) quality to come up with (Jason) Holder and (Shanon) Gabriel gives our attack a bit more strength (for the second Test),” Law said.

With Roach joining the ranks and Holder recovering, the touring side will be hoping to put up some fight against a star-studded Indian line-up in Hyderabad.