West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has expressed great respect for English pacer James Anderson who called time on his close to 22-year career.

Anderson on Sunday announced his decision to retire from international cricket after the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s on 10 July. The fast bowler made his debut for England back in 2002.

West Indies will play England in a three-match series in July, which will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Anderson will go into his final Test match with a respectable record of 700 wickets from 187 matches through a storied career. This makes Anderson the third-highest wicket taker in Test cricket, but he is optimistic of overtaking the late, great Shane Warne, who claimed 708 Test scalps.

Roach, who is expected to feature in the West Indies line-up for Anderson’s swansong, praised the English stalwart as “one of the greatest” pacers in cricket history.

“He’s a great fast bowler, probably one of the greatest,” Roach said at the Kia Oval where he is currently representing Surrey at the County Championship.

“It’s sad to see him go, but we all know you can’t play forever. He’s done fantastically for England and he deserves whatever he gets.

“First Test match against us… hopefully, we ruin it,” Roach said in gest. “He’s highly respected. He’s always given me great advice as well. He will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it. I wish him all the best after that Test match, and hopefully, he enjoys whatever comes next.”

Despite Anderson’s announced retirement adding some emotion to the upcoming series, Roach is resolute in his commitment to securing a series victory for the Windies. The Caribbean last won a Test series on English soil back in 1988.

Roach believes his teammates have capacity to break this drought with a formidable line-up including pace battery in Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, and himself.

“It’s a very highly talented and skilful group,” Roach said. “We’ve not had the best of times over here in England, so it’s more about focusing on us – not what they’re going to do for him (Anderson).

“He’s going to get what he deserves. But it’s all about us working hard to get what we deserve, which is a series win over here in England.”

“With Shamar and Jayden Seales now — Alzarri as well — they have added a lot of X factor to the bowling unit. On any given day, they can have a great spell and be devastating. That is what you want. You just want it as consistently as possible, to have those great days.

“To have three guys like that in the team, [for] a captain to have that to select, for any given day or any given surface [is great]. As a group, we are pretty confident. England is always our biggest series… We want to put up a good fight, put on a good show. We haven’t won a Test series in England for quite a while so it is good to come with some confidence, and hopefully, we can do it this time.”

West Indies are currently sixth in the ICC World Test standings and will be hoping to climb the table during the series.

Meanwhile, England finds themselves at the bottom of the standings, having secured only three wins in ten matches.