Former West Indies fast bowler turned analyst, Richard ‘Prof’ Edwards, believes batsman Kyle Mayers could blossom into a genuine all-rounder for the regional team, buts needs to consider shedding a few pounds.

The 28-year-old has had a splendid start to his Test cricket career for the West Indies, bursting on stage with 210 on debut against Bangladesh.  The innings helped lay the foundation for an expected away series win and catapulted the player into the spotlight. 

“I’m saying that if he goes on and develops his bowling, he won’t trick batsmen as early as that again and he would have to consistently bowl well, but he can, he has the natural ability to bowl.  However, he has to lose about 25 pounds.  He is too young to have all that weight carrying around on him,” he added.

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Has Richard Edwards been following WI cricket, Mayers was originally more known for his bowling than his batting, he has only concentrated more on his batting lately because of the injuries he was incurring. If he is an injury prone player, he should concentrate on improving his batting.

I think he was forced to concentrate on bowling because he could always bat. He was pigeonholed as a late innings hitter but he could always bat. Last year's regionals gave him that opportunity to showcase his batting. Personally I think they are a couple of other supposedly allrounders who are better bats than some of the recognized bats in the WI. Selectors and coaches need to look more closely at the regional players skills.

In reply to dayne

The good professor is quite right with his analysis. Mayers definitely has the potential to be a genuine all-rounder.

I'm not so sure Mayers is injury prone. I believe he had injured his ankle and couldn't bowl for a while. Perhaps the ankle injury caused him to put on a little weight as well.

I can envisage a West Indies batting line up with Bonner at five, Mayers at six and open competition for positions two, three and four.

In reply to Fivestar Correct and could the injuries have occurred because of fitness level? If you are either over-weight or too muscle-bound you are gonna get injured bowling fast. that skill requires toned muscles not bulk

In reply to seaegg99

Actually the two test Newbies both Bonner and Mayers started as bowlers, then evolved into bowling allrounders, now test batsmen and potentially allrounders. I like Myers approach to his bowling, he is very exciting and one expects a wicket with every ball he bowls.

Kyle could always bat. He was a member of the 2012 WI Under 19 team with KB and Campbell. Middle order bat and medium fast bowler. They tended to focus more on his bowling but wasn't really put in a position to have long innings on most teams he played on. Will say Justin Greaves is in the same boat. Justin now is getting more opportunities to bat higher in the order, but both could always bat but was more pigeonholed as bowlers.