21 September - Curtly Ambrose birthday

 

Sir Curtly Ambrose is one of the most dominant and celebrated fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Born on 21 September 1963, in Swetes, Antigua, Ambrose is best known for his incredible accuracy, pace, and intimidating presence on the field. His career, primarily with the West Indies cricket team, spanned from 1988 to 2000, during which he established himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

Key Highlights of Curtly Ambrose’s Career:

1. Bowling Style:

• Height: At 6 feet 7 inches (2 meters), Ambrose's towering presence allowed him to extract significant bounce off the pitch, making it difficult for batsmen to face him comfortably.
• Accuracy and Control: Known for his extraordinary ability to bowl a consistent line and length, Ambrose’s accuracy was as lethal as his pace. He could maintain relentless pressure on batsmen by rarely giving them room to score.

2. Test Career:

• Ambrose played 98 Test matches for the West Indies, taking 405 wickets at an impressive average of 20.99.
• He achieved 22 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls in his Test career.
• One of his most famous performances came against England in 1990, when he took 8 wickets for 45 runs in a Test match at the WACA Ground in Perth, which is considered one of the greatest fast-bowling spells in cricket history.
• Ambrose was instrumental in maintaining the West Indies’ dominance in world cricket during the late 1980s and 1990s.

3. ODI Career:

• Ambrose also excelled in One Day Internationals (ODIs), taking 225 wickets in 176 matches at an economy rate of just 3.48.
• He was a crucial part of the West Indies team that made it to the finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

4. Memorable Performances:

• 7 for 1 against Australia (1993): One of his most iconic bowling spells came during the 1993 series against Australia in the Caribbean. In the fourth Test in Trinidad, Ambrose took 7 wickets for just 1 run, reducing Australia to a shocking 119 all out.
• England 1994 Tour: In this series, he dominated the English batting line-up with devastating spells, including his famous 6 for 24 at Port of Spain.

5. Partnership with Courtney Walsh:

• Ambrose formed a lethal bowling partnership with fellow West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh. Together, they terrorized batting line-ups around the world and are considered one of the greatest fast-bowling pairs in cricket history. They took over 762 wickets in Test matches as a duo.

6. Retirement and Legacy:

• Curtly Ambrose retired from international cricket in 2000, with his final Test series against England.
• In recognition of his contributions to cricket, Ambrose was knighted in 2014 and inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2011.
• Post-retirement, he has remained involved in cricket through coaching and commentary. He has also pursued his passion for music, playing bass guitar in a reggae band.

Curtly Ambrose is remembered for his quiet, calm demeanor on the field, which contrasted sharply with the terror he struck into the hearts of opposing batsmen. His consistency, ability to bowl long, hostile spells, and impact on West Indies cricket make him one of the all-time greats of the sport.