Roach in race to be fit for Sri Lanka visit

DURHAM, England (CMC):

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has been ruled out of the rest of the County Championship after suffering a hamstring injury.

The 37-year-old Barbadian, who was representing Durham, sustained the injury on the opening day of their match against Middlesex last Friday.

Roach had originally signed with Durham for the first half of the Championship season, bringing his five-year association with Surrey to an end.

Durham have opted to replace Roach with South African pacer Duanne Olivier. Olivier had been expected to join Durham for the second half of the season, but the club brought forward his arrival following Roach’s injury.

Roach now finds himself in a race against time to be fit for the West Indies’ two-Test series against Sri Lanka late next month.

The two teams will play two Test matches in Antigua, with the first match slated to bowl off on June 25 and the second scheduled for July 3.