Intro
Kemar Andre Jamal Roach is not a rapper, but he did have the Gabba crowd dancing whenever he stepped onto the hallowed turf.
With a big smile and friendly nature, the international recruit was a huge hit with the fans and his teammates alike in his first season in with the Heat in BBL|02.
On the field he endured his share of bad luck with his bowling, often bowling well without reward at the start of an innings.
However, he hit the jackpot when it mattered, snaring 3-18 including the prized wicket of Shaun Marsh in the final win over the Perth Scorchers.
Hailing from the pristine waters and white sands of Barbados, the amiable West Indian is anything but friendly with the ball in his hand.
He had a number of Poms wincing in pain in the winter of 2012 Test series despite the docile English pitches and gave Aussie legend Ricky Ponting a crack on the elbow he has not forgotten four years ago.
Kemar has also had mid-pitch run-ins with the likes of Brett Lee and Jaques Kallis, never taking a backward step.
The only time you didn't see him on the front foot last summer was at Cottesloe Beach, when he politely refused a recreational swim with his teammates after a number of shark sightings and attacks in the general vicinity in recent years!
It was a valuable learning experience all round for Kemar, given he has been provided only limited opportunities in T20 with the West Indies and Barbados. Nontheless, he did much to impress coach Darren Lehmann during a short stint with the Deccan Chargers in the IPL in 2010.
He had a cult following at the Gabba after bowling just one over there in the rain-affected game against the Perth Scorchers, and was the centre of attention at member functions and Junior Heat coaching clinics.