BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

West Indies cricket coach Ottis Gibson has described pacer Fidel Edwards as a capable replacement for fast bowler Kemar Roach who will miss the Test series of the tour of Bangladesh this 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."

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

Confident

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 November 13 to 17 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in that country's capital of Dhaka, and from November 21 to 25 at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in the southwestern city of Khulna.

The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 International.