'Would love to emulate Anderson' – Kemar Roach

The last time the two sides played each other, in a three-match series in the Caribbean in 2019, Roach was instrumental in the hosts' 2-1 series victory. In the first Test, played in Roach's native Barbados, he claimed figures of 5/17, running through England's top order as they were bundled out for just 77 on their way to a heavy 381-run defeat. Roach rates the spell as his best ever.

"It was the best I have ever felt," he told The Guardian. "My body was healthy, the ball was coming out perfectly, I was expressing myself. There was no added pressure, just total comfort. That’s how I got the best out of myself."

In another interview, with ESPNcricinfo, Roach spoke of how it was also one of his favourite experiences in Test cricket.

"It was a fantastic experience," he said. "Obviously I love playing at home. Being a home-boy you have some fans, you have some family, chanting your name and cheering you on. We won that Test match as well. That's probably one of the best Test matches I've played in my whole career."

Roach was also asked about which seamers in the modern game he most liked to watch.

"I'm a huge fan of James Anderson," Roach answered. "His skill level is so high. His consistency is amazing. And the way he has played for so long, to keep himself so fit, it is pretty amazing what all he has done for England and for cricket all over the world and for fast bowling. I watch his videos a lot. I would love to emulate him someday.

"His art: being able to move the ball both ways, and he is consistent with lengths and lines. We all know fast bowling is very hard. It is very tough on the body and he has done a fantastic of job of playing over 150 Test matches. For me, it is something you want to emulate. Hopefully I can get close to some of his achievements."

While Anderson is England's leading wicket-taker in Tests, and has in recent years gone past the tallies of West Indies legends Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, Roach is on the cusp of joining an elite group of bowlers for his side. The pace bowler needs just seven more wickets to become the first bowler to pass 200 wickets in Tests for West Indies since Ambrose achieved the feat in 1994.

"It is a great honour. We have a fantastic history of fast bowlers in the West Indies, going back to Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Andy Roberts and those guys. It is a really good feeling to get in the bracket with those greats. I would like to play as long as I can, move higher up that ladder to be one of the top fast bowlers for the West Indies."