FIDEL EDWARDS’ lengthy absence from first-class cricket is about to come to an end with a belated birthday gift.
The recuperating fast bowler has been named in Barbados’ 13-man squad for their second round WICB four-day match against England Lions starting tomorrow at Kensington Oval.
It will be the first time that Edwards, who turned 29 last Sunday, will be appearing in a major match since representing the Deccan Chargers in the Airtel Champions League in October 2009.
It comes after a long period of rehabilitation following spinal surgery in January last year to remove a herniated disc.
His inclusion in the Barbados team comes after the George Linton-chaired selection panel received a report from experts who reckoned that the fast bowler could stand up to the rigours of a four-day match.
“We got word from the physio that he is fit and ready. He had a workout with the coaches and he seems to be doing the work that we expected,” Linton told NATIONSPORT yesterday.
“We hope that things will go well for him. He should gradually build himself up and see how it goes.”
Edwards first made a return to domestic cricket during a Division 1 match for Caribbean Lumber YMPC against CGI Maple at Trents on December 11, 18 and 19.
He played on the final day of the first trial match at Bayfield on January 11 and bowled ten overs without generating his usual pace on a docile pitch.
The selectors opted not to pick him for the opening match of the first-class competition. But three days after the announcement of the squad, he made a surprise appearance for a Barbados Select team in a three-day practice match at Weymouth and signalled a return to full fitness by grabbing four wickets, including three in one over. It was a performance that impressed Linton.
“He looked quite well. He complained about stiffness and cramp but the physio assured us everything was okay,” he said.
The return of Edwards is the only change to the Barbados squad in which fellow fast bowler Tino Best has been dropped for disciplinary reasons.
Barbados will go into the match with three points after conceding first innings lead to Trinidad and Tobago in a drawn match at Guaracara Park that ended on Monday.
England Lions “A” are among the joint leaders with 12 points after a convincing victory by an innings and 120 runs inside three days over the Leeward Islands at Warner Park.
The tourists will be without batsman Ravi Bopara who has returned home to link up with the senior England squad for the upcoming World Cup. Bopara’s unexpected inclusion comes after Eoin Morgan was ruled out because of injury.
Barbados squad: Ryan Hinds (captain), Dale Richards, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Kyle Hope, Kevin Stoute, Shamarh Brooks, Shane Dowrich, Jason Holder, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Jason Haynes, Roston Chase.