Edwards a.k.a. “The Gentle Tornado” is aggressive,
attacking and exciting, from a slingy round-arm bowling action,
reminiscent of Australian Jeff Thomson (one of the fastest bowlers
in history).
He gets the ball to swing at great pace and has a toe-crushing
yorker.
Despite that fact that the West Indies lost both the Test and
One Day series, Edwards unsettled Fleming, Astle, Styris, How,
Marshall and likes with bristling pace.
In the abscence through injury of his elder half-brother, left-arm
swinger Pedro Collins and the worthy Corey Collymore -- the other
Bajan in the trio from the northern village of Bascobel, Edwards
was the spearhead of the Windies attack in New Zealand.
At 24, he is entering his third season in International cricket.
Edwards made his Test debut for the West Indies against Sri Lanka
in June 2003, despite having played only one first-class match
for Barbados.
He gained selection after impressing the great Brian Lara in the
nets.
Quiet and unassuming, Edwards loves soulful music, reggae, R&B
and Trini Calypso.
In 22 Tests (minus the Napier caper), he has captured four, five-wicket
hauls: 5/36 vs Sri Lanka at Kingston in 2003 (on debut); 5/133
vs Zimbabwe at Harare in 2003/04; 5/36 vs Pakistan at Bridgetown
in 2005 and 5/65 vs New Zealand at Wellington in 2006.
On his One Day International debut, he took 6/22 at Harare against
Zimbabwe -- the best figures for a bowler on ODI debut.
To date, Edwards has been good -- once he remains injury free
and focused.
He has the potential and the weapons to be as dangerous as the
late Malcolm Marshall.
A shin splint rendered him in-active between September 2004 and
April 2005.
He missed Sri Lanka in July 2005, but returned to tour Australia
in November 2005 and New Zealand in 2006.
Fidel Edwards, Ian Bradshaw, Pedro Collins and Darren Powell should
figure prominently against Zimbabwe and India -- 2006.
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