Injury ends Roach’s county stint

LONDON – Ace West Indies seamer Kemar Roach will play no further part in the English County Championship for Surrey, after picking up a hamstring injury last week against Hampshire.

Surrey said Tuesday the 33-year-old had returned to his native Barbados to recuperate after scans confirmed the injury, sustained on day two against Hampshire at the Oval.

Roach sent down 38 balls in Hampshire’s first innings and took no further part in the contest which Surrey eventually won by an innings and 17 runs.

“I’m gutted that my time at Surrey has come to an end due to a slight injury but I want to thank the whole Surrey family for the love and care they have shown,” Roach said on social media.

The Barbadian was expected to feature for Surrey in their first five Championship matches of the season, after returning for a second straight campaign following his success for the London club last year.

He turned out in the season-opener against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, bowling excellently in the first innings to pick up three wickets in the drawn game.

Against Hampshire, he had managed only one wicket before limping off.

Of concern for Roach will be the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh scheduled for the Caribbean in June.

He is the leader of the home side’s seam attack and has been in excellent form in the longest format over the last three years.

Only last month, he claimed 11 wickets in the three-Test series against England to help West Indies secure a shock 1-0 victory.

Roach is seventh on the all-time list of West Indies wicket-takers with 242 wickets, and needs only eight wickets to overhaul the legendary Michael Holding in sixth.

(CMC)