WHAT A DREAM Test debut!
Kirk Edwards joined a list of 13 West Indian batsmen, including three other Bajans, the late Conrad Hunte, Gordon Greenidge and Dwayne Smith to score on century in his debut Test match when he fashioned a responsible 110 against India in the historic third Digicel cricket Test at Windsor Park, here Saturday.
Watched by his father Glendon Edwards, who had flown in for the match, Kirk said he didn’t promised him a century but was happy he was here to witness his 195-ball knock, which was embellished with nine fours and a six in a shade under five hours.
“I definitely felt a great joy doing it and my dad was in the crowd. He deserved to see me score my first Test hundred,” Kirk told the SUNSPORT but said he didn’t want to reveal his goals.
“What I can guarantee is that I give a hundred per cent every time, I go out there,” he said.
“It was a proud feeling for me to go to the Kensington Oval as a young boy…to watch the guys warm up and thinking to myself, one day I want to be out there doing the same thing, so it is like a dream come true, so I’m grateful,” he recalled about his dream to represent the West Indies.
The 26-year-old Edwards, who hails from Mile in a Quarter in St Peter, said he had been preparing himself for his first opportunity in the Test arena and is driven by a passion to be an integral part of the regional team.
“To be honest, I am always prepared. I prepared myself mentally. I visualize, I see what I want and I go after it. I want to be a pillar for West Indies’ cricket. All these things drive me,” Edwards noted.
But he said his thrill at getting a century, has been dampened somewhat by the West Indies’ overall position, only 81 runs on with four wickets in hand going into today’s final day.
“It is mixed feelings right now. We are kind of behind the eight-ball and if I had done it and we are on top of the game, I would feel its time to go and have a beer now but we are struggling a bit,” he said.
Edwards said while he enjoyed having the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the other end during their 161-run fourth wicket alliance, he motivates himself.
“I am self-inspired but it is good to be batting with a guy like Shiv, full of experience and I enjoyed every moment of it and I hope to see him at the crease again sometime soon,” Edwards said.
Edwards thanked the Dominican spectators, who cheered every boundary and almost every run, for their continuous support.
“To be honest, I had a brilliant reception in Dominica and it really kept me going. I really enjoyed the crowd here. Playing around the Caribbean, sometimes you find a lot of people saying a lot of negative things. We are a pretty young team and the guys are learning on the job, so I think the public need to have a little patience but here in Dominica, I was impressed with the support that we go,” he said.
