Had to put in a big effort

Fidel Edwards celebrates his five wicket haul - (Brooks La Touche Photography)

KINGSTON, Jamaica  – West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards who picked up a sixth

career five wicket haul in the opening Digicel Test against Australia at Sabina

Park said that missing main fast bowler Jerome Taylor in the final eleven to a

back injury meant he had to put in an extra effort for the team.

"Taylor was a big miss and also Chris (Gayle) and going in (the Test match)

without him I thought I really had to put in a big effort not for myself but for the

team," Edwards told reporters at the end of the second day's play when he

picked up five for 104 from 26.5 overs.

"The Australians have a lot of good batters and I had to put in the extra effort to

get the guys out," the right arm quick who hustled the batsmen with fiery pace

further explained.

Fidel Edwards cleans up Stuart MacGill -( Brooks La Touche Photography)

"The skipper wants you to do the job and you always find yourself giving a

bigger effort as the main strike bowler in the team," said the 26-year-old who

made his debut at Sabina Park in 2003 against Sri Lanka when he picked up a

five-wicket haul.

He said he was striving to work toward the team's game plan. "I thought I

bowled most of my balls in the right areas and that's what the coach has been

asking for," said Edwards, adding that he was happy with his pace and rhythm

that he views as an important aspect of his success as a fast bowler.

"I try to focus on my rhythm a lot, if my rhythm is off I bowl the ball all over the

place. I tried to work on my rhythm during the last series and it worked for me,"

Edwards explained.

Moreover, despite losing three wickets in the final session Edwards thought that

the home team had the better of the second day.

"We had the better of today, the way we bowled out Australia and we have 115

for three wickets so hopefully we can build on that tomorrow," Edwards said.