West Indies quick Kemar Roach has not been named among the playing or coaching staff for the Australia Tests, despite signing a player/coach deal earlier this year.
Roach reportedly signs dual player/coach deal with CWI
Roach, who will turn 37 at the end of this month, is West Indies' fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, and fourth-highest across all international formats.
In October 2024, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced their list of centrally contracted players from 2024, making the groundbreaking move of offering multi-year contracts to select men's and women's players.
The announcement had made special mention of Roach, who was not named as a contracted player – clarifying that he was in discussions with CWI regarding a dual playing and coaching/mentorship role.
At the time, Roach had just returned from injury to play one home Test against South Africa. He then played both Tests at home against Bangladesh in November, and in January 2025 played once on West Indies' tour of Pakistan.
There has still been no official confirmation from CWI on whether or not Roach accepted the the playing/coaching contract. However, reports from February indicated that Roach has in fact signed the deal. Veteran commentator Joseph Perreira outlined the terms: “He actually started an assignment when he worked with the [West Indies] Academy when they played the [Barbados] Pride at Kensington. And he will be back at Kensington when the Pride plays Jamaica, he'll be working with the Pride.
“There's no details whether in fact he'll be moving around to the Leewards [Islands], Trinidad, Guyana, to the Windwards. But it appears that he's got a contract and he may be assigned to maybe the West Indies fast bowlers when the Australian team come out to play the three Test matches and the five T20s.”
Kemar Roach left out of West Indies Test squad
As it happens, Roach has not been included in the West Indies squad – as a player or coach – for the home Test matches against Australia, the squad for which was announced on June 10. Ravi Rampaul has been named as a assistant bowling coach.
If he has indeed signed the dual role deal with CWI, his exclusion is somewhat perplexing. The lone mention of Roach in the squad announcement reads: “Despite being under consideration, veteran pacer Kemar Roach has not been included and has been duly informed.”
Roach has been active as a player of late, though. He played three matches in the West Indies Four-Day Championship for Barbados across February and March, and played twice in the County Championship for Surrey in April.
West Indies squad for Australia Tests
Batters
Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Mikyle Louis.
Wicketkeepers
Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach.
All-rounders
Roston Chase (c), Justin Greaves, Johann Layne.
Spinner
Jomel Warrican (vc)
Seamers
Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.
Support staff
Daren Sammy, Floyd Reifer, Ravi Rampaul, Rayon Griffith, Rawl Lewis, Dr Denis Byram, Ronald Rogers, Darc Browne, Avenesh Seetaram, Jerome Foster.
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