20 Facts about Fidel Edwards – The Fiery West Indian Pacer

West Indies has always been known as the breeding ground for pacers. The likes of Marshall, Garner and Holding held the legacy of premium fast bowling. While this trend of generating pace bowlers seemed to hit the dim verge, in came a young fast bowler from Barbados, Fidel Edwards. Edwards is one of the finest pace bowlers to have played for West Indies in the modern era. With so many accolades to his name, he is remembered for his impeccable pace and aggression. Here are 20 facts about Fidel Edwards – the fiery West Indian pacer:

1. Early life:

Fidel Edwards was born on 6 February 2016 in Gays, St. Peters in Barbados. His love for pace bowling was spotted early in his life. His brother, Pedro Collins, has also represented West Indies at the International level. He started playing for the club YMPC in Barbados.

2. The action resemblance:

Ever since the world got a sight of this fast bowler, comparisons were being made about his action with the legend Jeff Thompson. While Edwards continued stressing the fact that he never tried to copy anybody since his childhood, there was no limit to this comparison.

3. Nicknames:

Fidel Edwards is fondly called as Castro by his teammates.

4. Playing style:

He is a genuine right-arm fast bowler who has the ability to clock speeds of over 150 kmph. He has a slightly round-arm action that puts a little bit of strain on his side arm and the front leg.

5. First-class debut:

Having played a lot of club cricket, Edwards made his first-class debut for Barbados in 2001-02 at the age of 20 against the Windward Islands. He went wicketless in the first innings and got one wicket in the second. However, he did not have to wait long before making his international debut.

6. Stiff competition and the Lara factor:

The Barbados side boasted of players like Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Iain Bradshaw and many more and thus Edwards had a stiff competition at hands. But it was Brian Lara who spotted him in the nets and was influential in giving the young Edwards his international cap after having played just one first-class match.

7. Five-for on Test debut:

Edwards made his Test debut during the Jamaica Test against Sri Lanka in 2002. Edwards was lightning quick with the ball and picked up a five-for on debut, getting 5/36 in the first innings. He added one more to his match figures during the second innings. West Indies won the match by 7 wickets.

8. An even better ODI debut:

Edwards made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2003. He picked up 6/22 in his 7 overs and absolutely ripped apart the Zimbabwean top order. He became the first man to take 6 wickets on ODI debut.

9. Superfast!

Fidel Edwards has always been an express pacer. His fastest was clocked at 157.7kph in 2003 against South Africa. It was the second fastest delivery in international cricket at that time. Currently, he is the 6th on the list of fastest international deliveries.

10. Succumbed to injuries:

Edwards couldn’t make the most of the talent he had, largely due to recurring injuries. He picked up a shin injury that ruled him out for months. Later in 2009, another back injury kept him out of action for a couple of years. When he came back to play for Deccan Chargers in Champions League, he picked up another side strain.

11. Five-for on ODI return:

Edwards was found largely inconsistent due to which he couldn’t make it to the World Cup Squad in 2007. But on his return, against England at Lords, he blasted the English batting line up with his pace to pick up 5/45. However, England lost the match by 79 runs.

12. The Test best and 100 wickets in Tests:

He reached a personal milestone in the second Test against New Zealand at Napier during West Indies’ 2008-09 tour, taking 7/87 – his career-best figures – to pass 100 Test dismissals.

13. Abandoning remedial programme for Champions League:

Having picked up an injury prior to the ICC World T20 in 2009, Edwards was sent back to Barbados to undergo a remedial programme. But the pacer decided to abandon the idea and rather chose to play for Deccan Chargers in the Champions League. He picked up another injury there, due to which he was ruled out.

14. First-class comeback season:

After his injury, Edwards made a comeback in first-class cricket in 2010-11, playing for the Barbados. He picked up 22 wickets in 6 matches at an average just over 23.

15. Savior as a tail-ender:

He was more than just a tail-ender. He has the distinction of saving 3 Tests for West Indies. Playing against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2003, he hung in for 33 balls to deny Zimbabwe a famous victory. In 2006, Edwards remained at the crease for 36 balls in the Antigua Test, with India unable to claim the final wicket. The last instance came in a Test against England in 2009 where he prevented England from a win at Antigua by remaining unbeaten on five after 26 deliveries.

16. IPL career:

Fidel Edwards was bought by the Deccan Chargers during IPL 2009 for $150,000. He was highly influential in the success of his franchise. Later in 2013, he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in players auction for IPL 2013 for US $ 210,000.

17. Least runs conceded in 4 over spell in IPL:

Edwards produced figures of 4-1-6-0 as Deccan Chargers thumped Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets with almost seven overs to spare. His figures were later matched by Ashish Nehra (Delhi Daredevils), 4-1-6-1, against Punjab but for a losing cause.

18. Played in the BPL too!

Edwards also participated in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League in 2012. Edwards was bought for $60,000 by Khulna Royal Bengals to play in the newly formed Bangladesh Premier League. Later in 2013, he was picked up by the Rangpur Riders.

19. Major teams:

Edwards, though was plagued with injuries in his career, managed to represent a lot of teams. He has played for the following teams so far- West Indies, Barbados, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Deccan Chargers, Hampshire, Hampshire 2nd XI, Rajasthan Royals, Rangpur Riders, St Lucia Zouks, Sydney Thunder, and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.

20. Playing for Hampshire:

In 2015, Fidel Edwards joined the Hampshire side in the county competition. By picking up 45 wickets at an average of 20.8 from eight matches, he was the prime force in their first division survival, taking 10 wickets in a first-class match for only the second time in his career.