Series win still on Kemar Roach's mind amid emotions of getting to 200 wickets

Becoming the first West Indies bowler to reach 200 Test wickets in 26 years is not Kemar Roach's favourite moment of his career. At least, not yet.

Roach reached the landmark when he bowled Chris Woakes on the second day of the third Test against England at Old Trafford, but the seamer is aware the three-match series, currently tied at 1-1, is still very much alive. In fact, West Indies were in more than a spot of bother at 137 for 6 at the end of day two, after Roach's four-wicket haul helped them restrict England to 369 in the first innings.

"I think winning the series would obviously be the pinnacle right now," Roach told ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. "We are a little bit behind on the eight-ball but I am sure guys have it in them to come back out of the pit and fight. It [reaching 200 wickets] will be a favourite [moment] for me if we win the series but right now it's up there as one of the best moments in my career."

Roach had 193 wickets at the start of the series but went wicketless in the first Test in Southampton. Roach is used to an occasional barren spell but this one definitely made him sit up and think. Therefore, getting to 200 wickets brought more a sense of relief than elation.

"It did play on my mind, I would be lying if I say it did not," Roach said. "Some nights I was wondering what's going on but it's all about staying focused, staying positive, come out there and keep putting the hard work. That's how we can break what we call a jinx.

"It was tough but I have played cricket for long enough to understand those things happen. It's all about remaining positive. Go out there, keep fighting every day and we all know once the spell is broken and then you are back into your own. Definitely back [now], close to where I want to be.

"[The landmark gave me] a little bit of relief. Obviously it was a bit emotional. I know the journey I have had. It has been very very tough to get back on the field. To get that milestone is a weight off my back. It's all about how much I can go now, 250, 300 [wickets], probably 100 Test matches. Let's see how much the body stays up and how long I can play cricket for West Indies."

Once a tearaway fast bowler, Roach had to rebuild his game after a car accident in 2014. But with that came a greater understanding of his bowling and body. When asked what West Indies should do to have him around for a longer period, Roach said: "It's all about workload management and working smart. I am 32 now. I am not 21 anymore, so the body isn't the same but I think I am still in good shape to carry on for a couple of more years. I obviously know my game a little bit better now and it's all about staying on that path. So that's the goal moving forward."

His 200th wicket aside, Roach will also probably have fond memories of setting up the in-form Ben Stokes in this Test. Roach bowled him a couple of outswingers before breaching his defence with the one that seamed in.

"Obviously he [Stokes] has been playing well in the series. I thought he was lining me up very well. So I tried to change something, do something different. I talked to some guys, I talked to Roddy Estwick [West Indies' assistant coach], I talked to some other guys at home and they told me that I have to change a little bit as he seems a little bit comfortable facing me. I just tried something different and luckily for me it worked out. So let's see if I can do it again in the second innings and hopefully can get him out for even cheaper."

In a congratulatory video message, West Indies' leading wicket-taker of all time, Courtney Walsh, praised Roach's work ethic and asked him to target 300-wicket mark next.

"He [Walsh] is obviously one of the greats of the game and we all know how hard he worked when he was playing," Roach said. "So for him to say he is happy with my work ethic is really good to hear coming from him.

"I am always willing to learn. Have some very good people around me bowling-wise, Corey Collymore, Roddy Estwick, my former games teacher Peter Vaughan. I get a lot of advice from these guys every day. They want to see me do well. So it would be sin for me to not put the work in and obviously reward them with some performances. It's pretty emotional for me right now but I am very proud of what I have achieved today."