Kemar Roach has been the in-form bowler for the West Indies in the longest format. He was the standout performer and the biggest factor in the West Indies’ series victory over England earlier this year. With 18 wickets in the three-Test series, the Barbadian was the leading wicket-taker.

Roach has played 28 Tests at home with 124 wickets at an average of 22.1 and strike rate of 45.6. Since the start of 2018 he has 34 wickets to his credit at an average of 15.9. One of Roach’s most successful venues in the Caribbean is the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. In four matches he has taken 25 wickets, making him the leading wicket-taker at the venue.

Roach is unbeaten in the four Tests he has played in Antigua – won v New Zealand in 2012, drew v England in 2015, won v Bangladesh in 2018 and won v England in 2019. A notable feature of Roach’s record at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is his strike rate of 29.3, which translates to a wicket once every five overs. No bowler in the history of Tests in the Caribbean has been as prolific at a venue compared to Roach in Antigua. Of the 164 instances of a bowler having bowled 100+ overs at a venue in the Caribbean, none have a better strike rate compared to Roach’s 29.3 at this venue.

With the top-ranked Test team as the tourists, the West Indies will need the leader of their attack to continue his form in Antigua for the series opener.