GROS-ISLET, St. Lucia – Dynamic all-rounder Dwayne Smith and fiery fast bowler Fidel Edwards are both ready for action against Australia in the upcoming Digicel Twenty20 International Series.
The pair was called up for the first T20I on Tuesday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground and was confident of making an impact.
Smith said he was keen to do well at the top of the order as it allows him time to construct an innings, while Edwards said he had a few tricks up his sleeve, following a recent stint in South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament.
"I’m excited to be back," said Smith, who last played for West Indies last September against England at the Oval in London.
"I watched all the matches in the One-day International series and I was very happy with fight the guys here. I’m here now and I looking to help lift the team even more."
Smith has transformed himself into an opener in this format of the game following mixed success lower in the order earlier in his career.
"I am always up to the task of playing for West Indies," he said. "I like it at the top. Most of the people who get hundreds in T20 bat at the top, where you get a chance to bat 120 balls. It’s good for me to get out there early and put the scores on the board."
Edwards said his trip to South Africa put him in the right frame of mind for the two-match series against the Aussies.
"It feels good to be back in the West Indies shirt," he said. "I recently came back from South Africa and I am ready to go tomorrow."
The 30-year-old was also full of praise for captain Darren Sammy, who played a number of breath-taking knocks in the drawn Digicel One-day International Series, which ended on Sunday here.
"He has been doing a fantastic job with the team both on and off the field," said Edwards. "His batting has been coming on really well and we saw how he played in the ODI series and really inspired the team."
First ball for Tuesday’s T20I is 2 p.m. (East Caribbean Time).