West Indies veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach says young speed demon Shamar Joseph has the ability to leave a great legacy in Test cricket if that's what the 24-year-old desires.
The 35-year-old Roach has done exactly that. Ahead of the second Test against Australia that starts at the Gabba on Thursday, Roach boasts 267 Tests wickets which has him placed in fifth position on the all-time aggregate list for the West Indies.
In 2009, on his first Test tour, Roach announced himself as a bowler to be reckoned with when he shattered Ricky Ponting’s elbow with a lightning fast bouncer that forced the great to retire hurt.
Joseph, 24, took 5-94 on debut in the first Test in Adelaide including the wicket of Steve Smith with his first delivery.
"The best advice I can give him is to build his own legacy and understand what you want from cricket,” Roach said.
"That's up to him to determine … if it's monetary, or if it's just stats and statistics or whatever. There's gonna be a lot of distractions and he's a hot commodity right now.
“The (T20) franchises are a big distraction but guys still want to relish red-ball cricket. Test cricket is still in the hearts of West Indian cricketers at home. It’s just about us to provide support around it.”
Roach said the early signs from Joseph were all positive.
"He is a very confident young man and has shared a lot of information with me. We have a lot of conversations,” Roach said.
"He has a good energy I love. I am happy to be around him and to be a part of his career at the start of it. Let’s see how long and how good he can be at the end of it. He is destined to be good if he puts the work in."
The cricket landscape was different when Roach came through but he said Joseph was part of a young fast bowling troupe in the West Indies that still took their Test cricket very seriously.
He said they were "very proud to be a part of the red-ball team for the West Indies" despite the lure of T20 franchise cricket.
Roach has walked the talk after setting a personal goal to follow the path set by the great West Indies fast bowlers.
"I love Test cricket.I've played one-dayers and the T20 format as well but I think my heart was always a part of the red ball,” he said.
“I just wanted to be a part of those mega-cricketers back in the day … Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh … I just wanted to be a part of those names.
"It’s different times now. It is just about these youngsters and what they want to achieve. Make the right decisions, and they go forward."
