Lara defends selection of Fidel Edwards

GROS ISLET: As West Indies continue their search for the right combination of bowlers, captain Brian Lara has revealed that fledgling Barbadian fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who has a solitary First- Class match under his belt, is their latest recruit. “I think young Fidel of course is going to be a surprise for the people of the Caribbean but I think our cricket afficionadoes would understand that he’s been around,” Lara told stunned reporters at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here following the drawn rain-ruined first Test against Sri lanka. While Lara disclosed that Edwards was not selected for his country in the 2003 Carib Beer Series because of injury, there were other factors, like Barbados fast-bowling riches which kept the younger brother of dropped West Indies left-arm pacer Pedro Collins from actually making the final eleven. “Unfortunately, he didn’t play first-class cricket this year for Barbados because of injury but reports coming out of there is that he is very well, that he is a good bowler and that he is back from injury,” was how Lara put it. However, whereas Edwards missed Barbados’ first two matches because of slight back strain, the Barbadian selectors simply could find no room for him.