Injured Roach Replaced By Edwards For Bangladesh Tests

Injured Roach Replaced By Edwards For Bangladesh Tests

Kemar Roach (back) is out of the Test series due to injury and has been replaced by Fidel Edwards (front)

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indian fast bowler Kemar Roach has been forced out of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh through injury and has been replaced by Fidel Edwards.

Roach suffered a knee injury three weeks ago in Barbados but has failed to recover sufficiently, and will be out of action for a further three to four weeks.

"Kemar has not recovered adequately from the injury to join the squad for the tour," West Indies team physiotherapist CJ Clark said.

"He has commenced rehabilitation and will undergo further assessment. He is expected to return to action in three to four weeks."

Roach has been the West Indies most successful wicket-taker this calendar year, with 39 in seven Tests although his replacement is vastly experienced and has himself taken 158 Test wickets since his debut in 2003.

"It’s a blow for us," West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said of the injury. "He’s been an outstanding Test bowler for us in the last 12 months. He’s got a lot of wickets for us.

"The news is not all bad. It’s not a major, major injury. It just means that he cannot travel with us. He has started his rehab already, so hopefully, he can recover within the next three weeks and, perhaps, make the One-day series, which means he will get some cricket before the end of the year.

"It’s a difficult situation. He reckons he feels OK sometimes, and other times, if he gets his knee in the wrong position, he feels it, and the pain is so severe, he can’t do anything for a while. These things happen in sport."

The first Test gets underway in Mirpur on 13th November and the second match, in Khulna, begins on 21st November.

© Cricket World 2012