Edwards a capable replacement for Roach: Gibson

Bridgetown (Barbados) - West Indies cricket coach Otis Gibson has described pacer Fidel Edwards as a capable replacement for fast bowler Kemar Roach who will miss the Test series in Bangladesh next month.

Roach is suffering from a knee injury and could be sidelined for about a month but may heal in time to play the one-day series.

“Fidel was a member of the squad that played in the recent ICC World Twenty20 Tournament and he has been bowling (in club cricket in his native Barbados),” said Gibson.

“So his bowling fitness will be right up there at its peak,” he said.

Edward is due to leave the region with the remainder of the 15-member squad Saturday.

He has taken 158 wickets at 38.37 runs apiece in 54 Tests since his debut nine years ago.

“Along with Ravi Rampaul and Tino Best, we feel confident that they will all be able to do a good job for us in the Tests, whichever combination is selected.”

West Indies face Bangladesh in two Tests from Nov 13-17 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, and from Nov 21-25 at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in the south-western city of Khulna.

The Tests will be followed by five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 Internationals.