Windies speedster Edwards to go full throttle
New Delhi : With a designer tattoo on his arm bearing his son's name screaming for attention, fast bowler Fidel Edwards Monday sounded a warning for West Indies' rivals saying that he will go full throttle in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
"I am going to bowl full throttle (on the Indian pitches). If I can bowl in the right areas, I can be successful," said the shy-and-humble-looking Edwards at the team's open session with the media.
"I want to get back to the winning ways. Try to get some confidence and more focus, if possible," he said.
Defending champions West Indies will look to this 24-year-old bowler from Barbados as they strive to make an impact and qualify for the main round of the Champions Trophy beginning in Mohali Saturday.
Edwards, who played against India recently in the DLF Cup triangular series in Kuala Lumpur, could turn out to be a key bowler. At least he is hoping so.
"My fitness has been going great, my form has been a bit down. I am trying to get back to the peak form. This series should be great for me."
Also known as "Castro", probably after Cuban President Fidel Castro, Edwards said he knows how to bowl on the slow, batting oriented Indian pitches on his maiden trip to the country.
"You've got to be a lot more patient on Indian pitches. If you can't get an early wicket, you've got to be as patient as possible and keep bowling in the right areas," he averred.
With super slow-motion television replays exposing the secrets of bowlers' wrist and finger movements over the ball, Edwards said he would try to be effective by keeping his cool and wait for batsmen to make mistakes.
"You just have to be more patient. If you see a weakness (in a batsman) you can work on that. If you keep bowling in the right areas, you can get any batsman (out)," he reasoned.
With the game heavily titled towards batsmen, Edwards said if it were in his hands he would change the one bouncer per batsman per over rule.
Asked what he would like to change in cricket, he said with a smile: "Short ball (bouncers) rule. We need two or more (bouncers in an over)."
Edwards, who has played 21 one-dayers and 24 Tests said the West Indies could do well in the Champions Trophy if they again start believing in themselves.
"It is self belief. If we can pick up from there we can go forward," he said about his team's prospects in the 10-nation tournament.
West Indies play Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the eight-day qualifying tournament, after which the top two teams join the six other automatic qualifiers - Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and England. The final will be played in Mumbai Nov 5.
About India's prospects, the Barbados bowler said: "India always has a good chance. If they will have any worry it should be us. We should win this tournament."
Edwards did not play in the 2004 Champions Trophy when the West Indies triumphed in England against all odds. He watched the action it on television.
"The guys were very focussed, they knew what they had to do. If we do that we should win again," he said.
These days, if Edwards' mind is occupied elsewhere besides his bowling, it is on his four-month-old son Thierry Miguel.
"I got his name tattooed on my arm because I just love him. I miss him a lot," he said, proudly showing the big designer tattoo on his right forearm.
