Curtly Ambrose

Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose (b. September 21, 1963), nicknamed the ‘Big Bird’ after Joel Garner, was a famous West Indian cricketer. Born in Swetes Village, Antigua he played for the Leeward Islands, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (1989-96), and the West Indian cricket team. His skill was as a right-arm fast bowler, especially in partnership with Courtney Walsh. His huge 6’ 7” (2.01 m) frame was a fearsome sight for any batsman; even when his pace fell away due to age, he still bowled excellent line and length and was regarded as one of the most economical of fast bowlers. He made his Test debut in April 1988 at Georgetown, Guyana against Pakistan and did not retire until the end of the England tour in August 2000.

In Test cricket, he had 98 caps, bowled 1001 maiden overs (roughly two in every seven), and took 405 wickets (the fifth bowler to exceed the 400 wicket barrier) at a bowling average of 20.99. His best performance was 8 for 45 against England at Barbados in 1990 (in 34 Tests against England he took 164 wickets, dismissing Mike Atherton 17 times); he took five wickets or better on 25 occasions. In 176 One-day Internationals, he took 225 wickets. Despite certain pretensions as a left-handed batsman and a single Test fifty to his credit (53 against Australia in 1991), he did not distinguish himself with the bat.

Ambrose didn’t say much, refusing countless interview requests with the motto “Curtly talk to no man”.