Curtly Ambrose first came on the scene in 1986, representing the Leeward Islands in the local Red Stripe cup competition. The Antiguan played only one game that year against Guyana at Bourda and he took four wickets.
He missed all of the 1987 season because the Leewards’ fast bowling department was staffed by the likes of Winston Benjamin, Eldine Baptiste, Anthony Merrick and George Ferris, players who were either already playing for the West Indies, or were considered among those next in line.
He only started the 1988 season because Baptiste and Benjamin were in India on West Indies duties and made good use of the opportunity.
Fitter and faster now, he began to terrorise the regional batsmen and soon word spread throughout the Caribbean that he was to be feared, and possibly avoided. One Jamaican opener was somehow convinced by his partner that his left-handedness made him less vulnerable to Ambrose’s missiles, and so he should take him while he would content himself with Benjamin.
The result was that Nigel Kennedy, making his first class debut, suffered a broken arm and never played for Jamaica again that season, and I am yet to find out if he has spoken to his opening partner since.
On a docile Antigua recreation ground pitch Ambrose totally routed Guyana, taking 12 wickets in the match with nine of them bowled. In all, the 6’7” Antiguan took a season high of 35 wickets at an average of 15.48, with Malcolm Marshall next in line with 27 wickets.
By competitions’ end everyone knew that his next step would be to the then all-conquering West Indies team. There was just no way his claims could have been ignored, and we were confident he would add his name to the long line of fast bowling legends from the Caribbean. So no one was surprised when he was named in the team to face the visiting Pakistanis.
It was an unbelievable rise. Ambrose had played his first meaningful cricket match for Swetes, his village, in 1984 at the age of 21. Within four years he was a West Indies player, bowling alongside Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh.
It’s not like he lived for cricket. Unlike many Caribbean boys, Ambrose did not dream of playing for the West Indies. Most athletes who make it to the highest level dedicate hours of youthful energy to improving their craft. We know that Donald Bradman spent hours throwing a golf ball against a tank and hitting it with a stump.
Michael Jordan, perhaps the greatest basketball player ever, practiced every morning before school with his high school coach. Success normally requires a love for the sport that borders on obsession, and a work ethic that only a few can summon.
It was not so with Ambrose. He never really played much cricket as a young man, he said; actually, he never really cared much for the game. He played football and basketball. Cricket was too hard, consumed too much energy, so he only played tennis ball cricket on the beach with his friends to have a good time, and occasionally, because his friends thought he could bowl, he would be persuaded to have a game in the village.
This is somewhat unusual. Read the biographies of most cricketers and they tell of endless games in the backyard, or the nearby ground, or at some makeshift venue.
Cricketers who make it to the elite level often report that they were so taken with the game in their youth that they became cricket stalkers, searching for a game wherever one could be found. Ambrose only played when his friends asked.
Had an acquaintance from his village left for space when Ambrose was a teenager, and returned, say in 1994 while he was putting England to the sword at the Queens Park Oval, they would have been flabbergasted to find that the beanpole kid who was so indifferent to the sport could have risen to its very top.
He would have found it remarkable that such a reluctant cricketer would have gone on to take 610 international wickets.
Ambrose played his last game for the West Indies at the Foster’s Oval in Kennington on the 2000 England tour. Since then it appears he has been mainly occupied with music.
He plays bass in a band called “The Big Bad Dread And The Baldhead,” which also features Richie Richardson as its rhythm guitarist.
Cricket? He hardly even watches.
Garfield Robinson
Roar Pro
Thanks Wendell
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I would agree with that, although my memory is unreliable and I perhaps never saw the best of Garner. In the true form of the game, Ambrose was probably the more dangerous. It needs to be rememberde that Holding, Roberts, etc, were around at the same time as Garner - so perhaps his ability to take large hauls was curtailed by the brilliance of other bowlers having already taken a handful of wickets before the first change; whereas Ambrose opened the bowling, often paired with the exceptional Courtney Walsh. In limited overs cricket, there has perhaps been no better bowler than Garner. (Though, modern bats and tactics might have changed that a little.)
Garfield Robinson
Roar Pro
You are right Bayman, Garner was an exceptional fielder in the gully. I don't think Curtly was better.
Bayman
Guest
Sheek, I'm not sure about the fielding of Ambrose vs Garner. I seem to have this strange memory of Garner fielding in the gully and catching just about everything which went anywhere near him. Of course, at my age, it is entirely possible I dreamt it.
Garfield Robinson
Roar Pro
Johnno, Bishop would definitely have been near the top of the tree had he not plagued by injury. He was awesome. Patrick Patterson was quick. Very quick. But I believe the main reason Gooch was scared was because of the nature of the pitch. Sabina park was a scary place that year and Patterson especially but Walsh too wreaked havoc on it. Even Viv stood little chance when the Leewards came to Kingston that year.
sheek
Guest
Garfield, To the only thing I can add to your reply to marees, which is another feather for Curtley (over Big Joel), was the fact he could bat a bit better, & was a left-handed batsman. When everything else is just about even, you need those little things to separate them. Also, I think Curtley was a better fieldsman as well. But bowling-wise, pretty well nothing in it.
Johnno
Guest
i always thought a young Ian Bishop was the best of them all talent wise, wow he was a good bolwer so fast accurate and menacing too. And an intelligent man and a good commentator now on tv. But injuries got the better of him just like Waqar younis who we never consistently saw the best off as he was so injury prone. Ian bishop and Waqar younis were almost both unpalatable at there best and both had amazing reverse swing ability, plus Ian bishop got bounce too. Grahame Gooch who faced all the bowlers said Patrick Patterson was the fastest out of the lot of them and the only time he said he feared for his own safety facing patterson. Devon Malcom was lethal too but inconsistent.
Garfield Robinson
Roar Pro
Great story. Funny too. Thanks for sharing.
Bayman
Guest
My fondest memory of Curtly Ambrose was one afternoon at Maroubra Beach. It was the first season of "Beach Cricket" with teams of retired players from the Windies, England and Australia. At various intervals players from all teams had to attend signing sessions for the fans and it was the Windies turn. I had just finished getting Curtly to sign a couple of books when a fellow asked him, "Excuse me, Joel, would you sign this for me?" The Ambrose eyebrows rose about two inches and he asked, "Who do you think I am?". "Joel Garner", came the reply. "I'm not f***ing Joel Garner man - do I look like f***ing Joel Garner?" Well, at six foot a lot and black I could understand the confusion and I whispered as quietly as I could to the guy, "It's Curtly Ambrose". "Oh, shit!" muttered the poor sod as he realised he had not only got it wrong but had seriously upset the one guy it didn't pay to upset. "Sorry Curtly" he lamely offered, "I didn't realise you were so tall.....". I was trying desperately not to laugh, especially with Curtly still within arms reach and I happily abandoned the poor guy to his fate (as it turned out, Curtly signed his stuff). What Joel Garner made of it all, sitting just two seats away, I can only guess. It definitely was one of those great, "I remember the time......" moments. At least the guy can still talk about it.
Garfield Robinson
Roar Pro
Marees, I think there is little to choose between them. Both were very tall, very accurate bowlers who got plenty of bounce. If anything I think that Ambrose at his peak was the one more likely to dismantle a batting line-up. He might have also had an edge regarding pace. But again, very little to choose between them in my view. I'm no expert though so...
marees
Guest
always wanted to ask this Question... how does Ambrose compare to the "big bird" Joel Garner?
Brian
Guest
I don't know his average in India but I remember that in the 96 WC in India his stats and performance made him the best fast bowler by far.
Minz
Guest
That WACA test was my first test match, as a 12 year-old. We were sitting right in line behind Curtly's arm. Fearsome.
The Other White Wendell
Guest
Garfield, write more.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
After watching the game for 24 years, he's still the most hostile I've ever witnessed. His aura alone was frightening enough. They don't build 'em like that anymore.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
He was my favourite when I was a kid. Have a picture of him hanging up in my house. Stats don't tell the full story, how many batsmen were scared out of scoring, and how many wickets were taken down the other end after a good old fashioned rattling session from big Curtley?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
S R Waugh got his passion up.
Lucan
Good to read he didn't really have much passion for cricket. Explains why he would sometime show that when he was at bat. He'd often throw away his wicket cheaply as if he'd lost interest. That stood out in the era where the Australian tail batted gritty and held real value to their wicket. Still love the way he played cricket.
Bob
Guest
I remember him in 88/89. He was a bolt out of the blue. Everyone expecting Marshall and Patterson to be their terror, and instead it's this beanpole with the loping run. He was terrifying. Look at Border's face when he was dismissed in Perth 92/3. He couldn't believe that screaming banshee had reared up at him from a length. As I recall, though, he wasn't much good on a really flat deck. Anyone know what his average was in India? On his day, though - wow.
Rhys
Guest
I recall that ODI where Ambrose and Jones almost went toe to toe - I think Richie Richardson had to physically restrain the fired up quick. Big Curtly was undoubtedly one of the fiercest competitors of his era. Even when he was terrorising the Aussies, he was great to watch.