Chairman of the Barbados selection panel George Linton told the BCA website this evening that the decision to rest Edwards was in the pipeline since late last month during the third and final national trial match at Pine Basin following discussions with West Indies team Head coach Ottis Gibson and West Indies selector Courtney Browne.
The decision to rest the 30-year-old Edwards, a veteran of 51 Tests, 50 One-Day Internationals and 13 T20 Internationals, comes in light of the forthcoming West Indies home series against Australia, which starts in mid March and includes five ODIs, two Twenty20 Internationals and three Tests.
“We had a meeting during the final trial game with Ottis and Courtney and it was decided that there would be a policy of monitoring the workload of the key fast bowlers and resting them accordingly,” Linton said.
“It was suggested that Fidel plays in Barbados’ first two matches and then take a rest. He should be available again for at least the last match.”
Linton, a former Barbados leg-spinning all-rounder, also confirmed that Williams, who played in the island’s first match against Jamaica in Kingston, which Barbados lost by 120 runs, had missed the last match here against Trinidad & Tobago, which Kirk Edwards’ team won by five wickets, because of a groin injury.
“Kenroy had a groin injury and it was recommended by medical personnel that he rest for that game against Trinidad & Tobago. We are now happy with his fitness and he comes back for Fidel,” Linton told the BCA website.
With the selectors naming a starting XI, Linton also revealed to the BCA website that Jamal Smith, the tall, ICBL Empire wicket-keeper/batsman and Division 1 captain, had been placed on stand-by for Shane Dowrich, who sustained a nasty injury just above the left eye in the match against Trinidad & Tobago when a ball from fiery fast bowler Tino Best burst through his gloves late on the first day.
“Shane was due to visit the doctor again today (Tuesday) to have an assessment. Jamal has been practising and we have put him on stand-by in case Shane is unavailable,” Linton said.
The 20-year-old Dowrich was unable to bat in the first innings against Trinidad & Tobago as his eye was badly swollen, and he did not keep wicket in the second innings although he batted at No. 7 in the second innings and made 19 not out with two boundaries off 27 balls as Barbados chased 179 to win.
Specialist batsman Jonathan Carter took over the gloves when Dowrich was forced to leave the field for treatment with Trinidad & Tobago 285 for six after 84.4 overs. Carter did a relatively good job for the rest of the innings, taking catches from the last three batsmen off the combined pace attack of Christopher Jordan and Fidel Edwards in a total of 338 all out off 96.5 overs.
Carter was also the ‘glovesman’ for the entire second innings when Trinidad & Tobago fell for 139 in 39 overs after grabbing a first innings lead of 59.
Squad, with ages and local clubs: Kirk Edwards (captain), 27, (Counter Point Wanderers), Sulieman Benn (30, (Super Centre Spartan), Tino Best (30, ESA Field Pickwick), Kraigg Brathwaite (19, Guardian General Barbados Youth), Jonathan Carter (24, Sagicor Life UWI), Shane Dowrich (20, YMPC), Ryan Hinds (30, ICBL Empire), Christopher Jordan (23, YMPC), Omar Phillips (25, Sagicor Life UWI), Kemar Roach (23, CGI/Sandy Crest Maple), Kenroy Williams (27, BNB St. Catherine).
Reserves: Shamah Brooks (23, Super Centre Spartan), Kyle Hope (23, ESA Field Pickwick).
Management: Livingstone Coppin (Manager), Henderson Springer (Head Coach), Emmerson Trotman (Batting Coach), Dr. Jacqueline King (Physiotherapist), Rodney Ashby (Analyst).