ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) – There was nothing about the first hour of Kirk Edwards’ innings on Saturday that suggested a Test century. The 26-year-old looked at sea against the Indian attack, prodding and edging his way through the early part of his knock, while never suggesting permanence.

However, the lion-hearted right-hander put the dodgy start behind him, summoned all the determination he could find, to compile a superb 110 on the fourth day of the final Test against India.

“I’m always prepared mentally. I visualise what I want and I go after it. I want to be a pillar in West Indies cricket so all these things drive me to achieve my goals,” Edwards said afterward.

“As a batsman I bat time. I go about it to bat ball by ball, session by session. When you do that the runs will come. It is a matter of spending time at the crease and building an innings.

“I am self-inspired. I know what I want to achieve and I know how I want to get there. There will be obstacles but I always aim for my goals. I take all the negatives and try to turn them into positives.

“The more people tell me “I can’t, I can’t’, the more I try to go out and give my best and prove them wrong and show I can. The youngsters (in the team) need the support, we won’t come on the stage and ‘boom’ get success.”

Edwards stroked eight fours and a six in an innings that lasted 195 balls, becoming the 13th West Indian to score a hundred on debut.

His efforts helped West Indies recover from a precarious position of 40 for three, as he posted 161 for the fourth wicket with veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul who was unbeaten on 73 at the close.

“It is a special feeling to get a Test century on debut for the West Indies but I would have liked to carry on and make a bigger score for the team,” he pointed out.

“Test cricket is about fighting and I see myself as a fighter. We have a lot of fighting characters in the team and we will continue the fight in this match.”

A Barbadian, Edwards said he honed his cricketing ambitions from frequent trips to the historic Kensington Oval where he saw many of the great former players in action.

He was also quick to identify the legendary Sir Vivian Richards as one of his inspirations.

“As a young guy growing up and watching cricket I used to like to watch Viv Richards. I used to love to see Viv Richards on the highlights package (on television),” Edwards recalled.

“It was a proud moment for me to go to the Kensington Oval – at the old Oval – and see Brian Lara and Carl Hooper play. I used to think to myself that one day I would like to be out there playing as well, so for me playing for the West Indies is a dream come true.”