That was the situation with former
Barbados cricket captain Kirk Edwards today
as he responded to being expelled from the
national squad in Trinidad and Tobago by
turning up in the nets at Kensington Oval
and practising for more than two hours.
Edwards was kicked off the squad by the
team management after reportedly refusing to
sign for uniforms which he considered of
sub-standard quality.
In an exclusive interview with Barbados
TODAY this morning Edwards spoke of his
current troubles as well as the personality he
possesses that apparently has rubbed some in
officialdom the wrong way. This personality
has been described by some as “too strongâ€
but Edwards was of the opinion that a strong
personality did not equate to indiscipline.
Defending himself, the 29-year-old
described the present contention with
the Barbados Cricket Association board
as “nonsense†and stated that his strong
personality did not reflect poor captaincy
skills or indisciplined behaviour.
“I was never made aware that I have
any behavioural problems. I just had a good
report from the ‘A’ team, specifically the
West Indies Cricket Board President and
they all get good feedback on me and nobody
ever said to me: ‘Well Kirk, we have a
problem with your behaviour or whats not’.
So it came over to me like a shock at first.
But I’ve been through many things like this . .
. so I said to myself things do happen, so get
over it and move on,†he stated.
The tall, well-built St Peter resident
said that any individual who exudes mental
strength or strong leadership qualities should
not be viewed negatively. He added that
possessing such a personality should not be
the precursor to unwarranted confrontation
or condemnation.
“I think that is every man’s aim. Even if
they are not strong enough at the moment,
they would look to get stronger whether they
go to read some books or see a psychologist.
The mind controls the body. I am an athlete
and the way I see it if I don’t strengthen
my mind then I would carry a weak body. I
would never be able to come out here and
represent [the public] in the way that you
think you should be represented. I never had
a bad report yet . . . I never hear that word
indiscipline associated with me yet . . .hence
the reason why I became a leader. If I was
indisciplined they would never let me lead,â€
Edwards stressed.
The talented right-arm batsman said that
over the past few years he had noticed the
unofficial requisite of having strong mental
capacity – the type that served greats like
Sir Frank Worrell, Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv
Richards well in their years – suddenly being
replaced by almost slavish subservience.
“Things that I grow up hearing were the
right things to do, suddenly become the
wrong things now and the wrong things
become the right things, so I am confused.
I am old school in terms of discipline and. .
.how things should function. There is always
going to be a right and a wrong way for
things to function but cricket doesn’t change
much – it is the same cricket . . . . like me
recognizing that, a lot of people should
recognize that as well. A strong leader in that
time and a strong leader now (is the same)
strong leader which is required in
[the future].
“That is how I see it, it is all about strong
leadership. The reason for leading is that you
have to have the ability to stand up to [and
for] your players, to help them on the right
path and to go down a line that is successful
for everybody. If you aren’t, then you can’t
make that happen, that is why then you won’t
be a good leader. So I am proud of how I go
about my business,†he stated.
Reaffirming his commitment to Barbados’
cricket, Edwards said he did not feel defeated
by his expulsion. Rather everyday he still
planned to go out, train hard and be prepared
for the time when he is again called upon,
to represent his country with 150
per cent effort.
The former West Indies vice-captain
said: “Every day, trust me, whatever dream
I had at 11 or 12 it is just a bigger dream
now. Everyday, whatever I could do to add
towards me getting closer to that dream, that
is what I’m about, that is how I go about my
business. I want to be better at what I do, I’m
never going to relax and say I am good
enough – no I am not, I got to get better all
the time. That is the reason for me coming
out and putting in my work.
“This is my job . . . this is one of the
things I look forward to yearly – to represent
Barbados. I don’t think that the ignorance on
the guys part will stop me from doing what I
have to do. I have to keep preparing. I am a
professional, so I have to prepare for anything
that could possibly be around the corner.
That isn’t going to stop me.
“A champion is never defeated. I consider
myself a champion and if something happens
today, you got to get back on your bike and
ride again. It is not about sitting down and
feeling sorry for yourself or bingeing over
things that you can’t really take back. You
have to think about the next thing all the time
– that is how I see it. I’m very grateful for the
support I have been getting from the people .
. . and I’m very excited to get back out there
and represent them properly,†he vowed.
kimberleycummins@barbadostoday
