Roach, who turns 36 on Sunday, claimed 18 wickets at 25.77 in six appearances this season for Surrey, the defending County Champions, and showcased his enduring reverse-swing abilities in a matchwinning spell of 6 for 46 in his penultimate match against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval in May.
“Kemar’s skill and experience in English conditions will be missed,” Desmond Haynes, West Indies’ lead selector, said. “However this opportunity has been long in the making for Jeremiah Louis, he certainly has the skill and experience to make an impact in England.”
Speaking earlier this summer, Roach had talked up West Indies’ prospects of competing hard in their three-match series, particularly on the fast-bowling front, with Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph – the star of their victory over Australia in Brisbane this winter – all helping to form one of the most potent seam attacks since the region’s heyday in the 1980s and 1990s.
“I have no retirement time in sight,” Roach himself said in May. “I think I can go as long as I want, but obviously it’s all on performances. The older you get, you need to have performances to stay in the team.
“I’ve been doing well, but I just want to keep helping the youngsters so they’re in a good space, mentally and physically. I’ll be happy to see those guys going after me and breaking those records if they have to.”
In addition to Louis’ call-up, CWI confirmed that Isai Thorne, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Guyana, would be joining the squad as a development player. The squad are due to play a warm-up match against a County Select XI in Beckenham from July 3-6.
West Indies Test squad Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph (vc), Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Jeremiah Louis, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair
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