Bradshaw never intended being a medium pacer

Ian Bradshaw says he just happened to be an anti-thesis of the West Indian fast bowler and his love for the game has more than made up for his lack of pace.

"I didn't choose to be a medium pacer. I realised at one point of time that I cannot bowl at 90 miles per hour. But I enjoyed playing this game, so I continued, and here I am," said the 32-year-old left-arm seamer from Barbados.

The current West Indies pace attack must be one of the rawest, in terms of international experience, to visit India, and Bradshaw's maturity as much as his medium pace stuff will be the key to the Caribbean's fortunes in the Champions Trophy.

Of course, the attention will be focussed on the two young pace spearheads, Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor.

For the trio, and Corey Collymore, it is their first visit to India. But it is with excitement, not anxiety, that they approach the task on hand.

"I have always wanted to come to India. I have seen the big crowds on television, just like back home, and I am very eager to play in front of them," said the 24-year-old Edwards.

Here again, Bradshaw's awareness of the game's history stands out.

"As a kid I had identified some of the venues where I wanted to play. The Lord's, the MCG and the Eden Gardens," said the bowler who made his international debut only two years ago.

"It is a pity I won't be playing in Kolkata but to be here the first time, and as the defending champions, is a tremendous feeling," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw played a vital role with the bat in the final to help the West Indies win the trophy in 2004.

"In the 70s, we had the best team. We had great batters and bowlers. If you have great batsmen, you don't need the number 10 to bat," he said.

He talks of Indian cricket animatedly.

"I have great appreciation for the great spinners India have produced, Bishan Singh Bedi, Chandra and Prasanna. There have been great batters as well, the list is big."

And the batsman he is looking forward to bowl to is Sachin Tendulkar.

Is it because of Tendulkar's known weakness against left-arm bowlers?

"Oh, if there is an area to get Tendulkar, any bowler would like to patent it and sell it. I think he is the most complete batsman," Bradshaw said.

"It is an honour to play against him. He is a great sportsperson and an ambassador of the game."

Mention Tendulkar, a smile of mixed emotion crosses Edwards's face.

He was at the receiving end of the master's blade when Tendulkar slammed an unbeaten 141 in the tri-series match in Malaysia.

"But I had him edge it to the wicketkeeper early on," he said.

Taylor, 22, was also there, troubling the Indian batsmen by regularly hitting the indentation in the pitch.

"That indentation was at good length spot. As a bowler, you are taught to land the ball precisely in one area. So if I could hit that spot, then why not," the right arm pacer said.

They say fast bowlers hunt in pairs. Taylor and Edwards have some way to go before being talked alongside Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, but they have the key ingredient, a fast bowler's mindset.

"For me, fast bowling is all about speed and moving the ball. It is also a mind game, because you have to think because the batsman is also thinking," said Taylor, who comes from the cradle of West Indian fast bowling, Jamaica.

Certainly, the prospect of bowling on flat wickets has not bothered them.

"We play in even more hard conditions back home," said Bradshaw.

Edwards said among the batsmen he will be up against in the biennial event, Aussie captain Ricky Ponting will be the toughest.

"He is aggressive and keeps coming at you," he said.