Unknown Bajan pacer in Second Test squad

CASTRIES: The West Indies yesterday announced the surprise choice of 21-year-old fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who has only one First-Class match to his name, in the squad of 14 for the second and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka.

Edwards, whose only match was for Barbados against the Windward Islands in the 2002 Busta Cup, replaces reserve wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh in the squad from the drawn First Test that ended yesterday. The Second Test starts on Friday in Kingston, Jamaica. The selectors gave no explanation for their choice in the written statement from the West Indies Cricket Board. But observers said captain Brian Lara had been impressed with Edwards’ bowling at net practice prior to the Third Test against Australia last month.

Edwards, who is from Barbados, is half brother of Pedro Collins, the left-arm fast bowler who has played 19 Tests for the West Indies but was dropped after two Tests of the series against  Australia. Edwards’ inclusion brings to five the number of fast bowlers in the 14. The others are Merv Dillon, Corey Collymore, Vasbert Drakes and Jerome Taylor. He is the sixth new player introduced in the back-to-back Test series against Australia and Sri Lanka. The others were Baugh, Taylor, left-handed opener Devon Smith, batsman David Bernard, off-spinner Omari Banks and fast bowler Tino Best.

WI Squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Omari Banks, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Wavell  Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.