ENG v WI 2020: Roach warns Archer to expect "no friendships" during Test series

Barbados-born Jofra Archer will be playing his first Test series against West Indies.

Kemar Roach | APWest Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach said Jofra Archer can expect "no friendships" during the Test series in England, starting July 8. 

Archer, born in Barbados and even represented West Indies U-19s, moved to England in 2016 and became eligible to play for the adopted country last year. 

This will be the speedster's first battle with the fellow Caribbean mates in Test match cricket. 

Read Also: Coach Phil Simmons says absence of crowds will "help" West Indies

"Jofra made his decision and he's done a fantastic job for England so far but there will be no friendships during this series," Roach told reporters about the 25-year-old, who has so far played seven Tests for England and taken 30 wickets at 27.40. 

"It's all about winning and playing hard cricket. We will devise a plan for our batsmen to counter him and I'm looking forward to that battle."

"I saw him as a youngster in domestic cricket back home in Barbados and always thought he was talented," he added. 

"He has come over here and shown what he can do and I want to wish him all the best in his career. But you will definitely see if we have any words for him on the field when that comes around."

West Indies squad and reserve options have already reached there in Manchester to go through the three-week quarantine period before focus shifts to the on-field action, beginning with the first match in Southampton, which will mark the return of international cricket amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The visitors will be hoping to repeat their wonderful feat from last year when they beat the three lions 2-1 in a historic Test series result in the region through sheer pace and hostility. 

"It's different conditions to the Caribbean and the ball will do a bit more here but I don't think our mode of attack will change much," said Roach. 

"We saw what happened in the Caribbean and that's pretty fresh in our minds and if we can get stuck into the batsmen we will have a great chance of defeating England."

"We have always had a history of fast bowling and we just needed the pitches to bowl on which our curators have given us," he added. 

"Our bowlers have done a tremendous job over the last couple of years and if we continue to work hard there are some great things ahead of us."

Roach, meanwhile, also revealed that his team is still discussing ways on how it can best acknowledge the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. 

Worldwide protests are going on against racism following the death of an Afro-American, George Floyd, after being kneeled on his neck by a white policeman in the USA last month. 

"I feel very strongly about it for obvious reasons," Roach said. "But the team have discussed it in-depth and we are going to go back and have a discussion about it again soon."

"Then as a team, we will come up with a way to answer all questions relating to that Black Lives Matter issue."

The entire three-Test series, also featuring the second and the third Test both at Manchester, will be played in a bio-secure bubble due to the ongoing pandemic. 

(Inputs from AFP)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 15 Jun, 2020

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