Kemar Roach, the West Indies fast bowler, has declared there will be “no friendships” between England’s Jofra Archer and the West Indies players when the two sides meet in their upcoming Test series.
Archer, who was born in Barbados, represented the Windies at Under-19 level, playing three one-dayers for the West Indies U19 team in 2013 before moving to England.
Roach, part of the 30-member squad for the three-Test series, feels there’s no room for camaraderie when they face Archer, despite the England quick’s lasting friendships among members of the West Indies team.
“It is all about winning and playing hard cricket,” Roach, also from Barbados, said. “Jofra has made his decision and I think he’s done a fantastic job so far in his career, but obviously there’s no friendships and stuff in this series.
Archer is yet to play against West Indies in Test cricket, having faced them once in ODIs during the 2019 World Cup, when he picked up three wickets.
The first Test is scheduled to begin on July 8 in Southampton, and will be followed by two more Tests in Old Trafford, beginning July 16 and July 24.
