The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
Just one week ago, the most famous Fidel in the Caribbean was the famous Castro, leader of the Cuban revolution. Now, Mr. Castro has company.
Making up for what he lacked in experience with energy, ebullience and ?lan, Fidel Edwards made a huge step towards adding his name to West Indies folklore -- and revolutionalise the way we view team selection in the Caribbean.
As West Indian cricket fans in the Caribbean and around the world bask in the warm afterglow of yesterday's triumph at Sabina, it seems that everyone is talking about 'The Corner' and how it has finally been turned with the decisive victory over the Sri Lankans.
Certainly, there are signs of life at hand but it is so hard to dismiss that niggling feeling of doubt that lurks in the flickering shadows. How many times have we seen a new hand on the tiller steer us into glory at home only for the ship of West Indies cricket to founder and be dashed upon the treacherous shoals of overseas tours?
But wait a little - maybe things are a little different this time.
After the sensational and successful Test debut for fledgling West Indies'' fast bowler Fidel Edwards, his Barbadian coach Wendell Coppin is warning cricket purists not to tinker with the slinging, unconventional action of his young charge.
Presently celebrating 75 years of Test cricket, a celebration, by the way, that has been, disappointingly, as lackluster as a damp squib, the West Indies opposed Sri Lanka in the 1st of a two-Test series, at the new Beausejour Stadium, situated in the Windward Island of St. Lucia, and adjacent to the world famous yachting port of Rodney Bay. This venue became the 8th Test venue in the Caribbean, and the 88th around the world.
el Edwards was named in the West Indies final eleven for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Jamaica.
Edwards, the 21-year-old pacer from Barbados, will take the place of Merv Dillon. With the bowling lacking bite in the first Test, the selectors also recalled Vasbert Drakes and dropped opener Daren Ganga.