Shane Dowrich confident West Indies pace attack can match England’s

Wicketkeeper Dowrich hailed his fellow Bajan and England quick Archer as an “amazing talent”, but maintained that the West Indies are more than happy with their bowling line-up.

Barbados-born Archer’s path from West Indies Under-19s omission to England glory is well documented, but Dowrich believes the tourists are happy to take on their compatriot.

“I know Jofra pretty well, he’s an amazing talent and I wish him well going into this series,” said Dowrich.

“But at the end of the day when we cross that line, it’s the West Indies against England.”

Asked if he would rather have Archer in the West Indies line-up than face him, Dowrich replied: “No. I think he’s made his decision in terms of where his career is going to go and, as I said, I wish him all the best.

“But at the end of the day we have a wonderful bowling line-up and I’m happy with the team that take the field with me.”

England’s three-Test series against the West Indies will start at Southampton on July 8, with the matches held behind closed doors given the continued fallout from the coronavirus. Dowrich believes the tourists’ pace options of Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder can cause England a host of problems.

“If you look at the main four in Shannon, Kemar, Jason and Alzarri, they all present different skills,” said Dowrich.

“Kemar is probably the most skilful of all them in terms of being able to get a consistent line and length, and moving the ball both ways.

“Shannon and Alzarri have a little more pace, and Jason is Mr Consistent; he can put the ball on a 10-pence piece.

“So I think we bring the whole dynamic, and then obviously you have young Chemar Holder coming up, who is an exciting talent and the way he bowled in first-class cricket this season shows that.

“We have a well-versed attack and I look forward to seeing them bowl in this series.”

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