Kemar Roach has high hopes for protege Jayden Seales and says the future of the West Indies bowling is bright.
However, he has asked for the public to be patient with the team’s batsmen, whom he believes will eventually deliver to their full potential.
Seales, 19, took eight wickets in the recently concluded first Betway Test against Pakistan at Sabina Park that the West Indies won by one wicket. During the Pakistan second innings, Seales took career-best figures of 5-55 and became the youngest West Indies bowler to take five wickets in an innings as the West Indies bowled the visitors for 203.
He and Roach then stitched together an unbroken 10th wicket partnership of 17 to lead the West Indies to victory.
During a virtual press conference with the media on Monday, Roach said he believes Seales has a bright future.
“He has come into the family. I have the greatest hopes for him. He is a good student. He listens, he works really hard and he is learning every day,” Roach said, highlighting that Seales is yet another member of a talented group of bowlers that the West Indies have at its disposal.
“Obviously, with Shannon (Gabriel) back when he is ready, myself, Jason (Holder), him (Seales); Alzarri is there and there are a couple of other guys in the Caribbean, Chemar Holder, Keon Harding, Preston McSween; we have a really good corps fast bowlers coming through.
“So, I believe in any one of them at any point in time, once given the opportunity will get the job done. They just have to stay together, keep working hard, keep communicating and keep working on their skills. I don’t see no limit when it comes to our bowling attack challenging any Test line up so there is a great future for us in the fast bowling department for sure.”
With regards to the batsmen, especially those in the top order, Roach asked for patience.
“We don’t have a huge pool of batsmen in the Caribbean, so we have got to try and believe in these guys. They have the capabilities; we all know they do. It’s just about applying themselves and believing in themselves some more,” he said.
“I am totally behind them. We talk. As bowlers, we usually give them information about how best to handle situations from a bowling point of view. They work hard. One thing about this team is it’s a very hard-working team.
“It’s a lot of work being put in behind the scenes. I really feel for the batsmen because I know the work they do and it’s about time they get some returns so people can see it, but that time will come.”