Kemar Roach was so emotional that he teared up after he became the fourth West Indies fast bowler to 300 Test wickets and fifth West bowler overall to the landmark. Roach, who will turn 38 at the end of this month, joined a club that includes Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall.
"Thank you very much, everyone. I really appreciate it," Roach said after receiving a special jersey from Jayden Seales following West Indies' innings victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test in North Sound."All the people supporting me over the years, I'm glad and very proud in some way. But for me right now, I just want to bask in the moment, celebrate this Test win, and then win the series as well."
Roach reached the landmark when he rifled a full ball into No.10 Asitha Fernando's stumps from wide of the crease after lunch on day four. All up, Roach bagged four wickets in the innings, rushing West Indies to an innings-and-217-run victory. Roach paid tribute to his captain and former room-mate Roston Chase, coach and former team-mate Daren Sammy, and the team physio Denis Byam.
"It's been a long journey, man," Roach reflected. "I'm happy the guys won the game, that's the most important thing. I think the win is what we needed to get ourselves on the [World Test] Championship table. So, well done to the team, Roston Chase on his first win as captain. Sammy on his first win as well as coach. But, you know what, it's been a long journey. It took a lot to be here. I want to be here for all these guys, everyone supporting me, especially Denis Byam.
"I want to mention Denis Byam immensely. He's the team physio and we've had countless conversations for the last couple of weeks. Obviously coming back from injury, a lot of work had to be done to get myself out here to play this Test match. He was phenomenal, man. All my family, I know my mum is watching, she's proud. My kids, all my friends at home. I know everyone's watching now, just this day today. I want to thank all the Antigua fans for coming out and supporting the team."
Coach Sammy, who has had a front-row seat to Roach's rise delivered a glowing appraisal of the fast bowler's leadership and evolution. Roach can't bowl at express pace anymore, but he's found other ways to beat batters like using the crease and his wobble-seam variation. Roach also gleaned more movement in the air and off the surface than Sri Lanka's quicks had, threatening both the edges.
"I think his first Test wicket was caught Daren Sammy [Dale Richards] against Shakib Al Hasan [in 2009]. For me the most important thing about Kemar is the way he reinvents himself," Sammy said. "He's lost a little bit of pace over the years...and you could see the emotions on his face. I think he's in the top five now for the West Indies. His leadership, we talk about it. Probably, he's getting older and you have Shamar [Joseph] and you have Alzarri [Joseph] and you have Jayden Seales. Bringing him back for the conditions in New Zealand and manage him - he was coming from injury.
"The legend of the man he is - in the dressing room, he's a leader. Every time the captain calls on, he creates a chance for us and that's important. Getting wickets with the new ball was something we spoke about in the last World Test Championship. The respect that he has and the way he has carried himself - that shows."
While Roach was tight-lipped about his Test future, Sammy felt that the former still has a role to play as the frontman of the attack.
"I could get things wrong as well. But his planning and to see Kemar achieve what he did there, I'm happy for him and I'm proud of him and I know he still has a lot to offer," Sammy said. "He's proving to me and he's proving to everyone that he's still a fierce competitor in the Test arena."