West Indies ace speedster Kemar Roach is set to join Durham for the first half of the County Championship season, bringing his five-year association with Surrey to an end.
West Indies international Roach will join up with the Durham squad ahead of the season opener against Kent at Banks Homes Riverside and will remain in Chester-le-Street until mid-June, according to the Durham Cricket website
The three-time County Championship winner brings proven pedigree in English conditions, having taken 97 wickets in 30 appearances across the last five seasons with Surrey, alongside 14 poles in four games for Worcestershire
After making his Test debut in 2009, Roach is closing in on 300 Test wickets for the Men in Maroon, having claimed 12 five-wicket hauls in 88 Tests with best returns of 6/48 against Bangladesh, whilst taking 125 scalps in 95 One Day Internationals.
The 37-year-old seamer has collected 580 first-class wickets in 183 matches, averaging just 26.31 with the ball, taking a best of 8/40 against Hampshire in 202,1 whilst claiming 24 first-class five-wicket hauls.
Barbados-born Roach has played for his hometown club since making his List A debut in 2007, whilst also featuring on the franchise circuit, lifting the Big Bash title with Brisbane Heat in 2013 alongside multiple stints in the Caribbean Premier League.
On joining Durham, Roach said, “I can’t wait to join Durham for the 2026 season. Having played in the County Championship for the past five years, I know how serious a side Durham is, so I plan to join and add great value to the side.”
My intention is to assist Durham in their quest for a trophy during the upcoming summer and I believe the current group of players at Durham has the potential to achieve this goal. I am eager to contribute to the team while using my past experiences to assist Durham in securing victories. The County Championship for me is as close as playing Test cricket, which is why I love it so much. The county season presents a difficult challenge, but I want to bring a winning attitude to Durham because victory brings us valuable achievements. His statement “I want to face my teammates and compete fiercely through our cricket matches” he declared.
The Director of Cricket Marcus North expressed his happiness about the team signing Kemar for Durham. The athlete stands out as a Test Cricket world-class player who brings valuable county cricket experience to our team.
Kemar brings proven quality with the ball but also a wealth of knowledge that will benefit our younger bowlers across his time at Durham. The way he leads bowling attacks in English conditions remains a top priority for us because we want to succeed in the County Championship. His professionalism, competitiveness and understanding of what it takes to win County Championship matches were key factors in the decision to bring him to the club. The organization expects he will create major effects during his active period with our group. North finished his statement by saying “We look forward to seeing Kemar enter the team before our first match because we expect him to play a vital part in our attempt to win in the first part of the season”.
