Courtney Walsh

November 16, 2007

This Jamaican workhorse is popular in the cricketing world for his quiet and determined manner. His achievements speak for his ability, being the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers with 519 test wickets. He set an example for everyone with his sportsmanship and gentlemanly behaviour throughout his illustrious career. Courtney was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 30 October, 1962. Playing for Excelsior High School, Kingston, he once took all ten wickets in an innings, five as a spinner and five as a seamer. It was a record for Jamaican school Cricket. He made his test debut in 1984 against Australia at Perth, but did not get the new ball till 1993. He was one of the Wisdens Cricketers of the year in 1987. In 1991, he was appointed the captain of Jamaica. In 1992, he became the highest wicket taker in English county season with 92 wickets at an average of 15.96 which was also the best bowling average that year.

Later on with curtly Ambrose, he devastated countless batting line-ups, sharing 421 wickets in 49 tests with his compatriot. Famous for his willingness to work hard, he always agreed to ball into the wind while fellow bowlers were charging into the pitch with the wind behind them. He got a chance to captain the national side in 1994 on a tour to New Zealand when Richie Richardson got injured. His love for his country was made evident when he got the West Indies badges removed from the right side of the shirt and to be fixed on the left side of the players’ shirts, right over their hearts. He was appointed the captain of West Indies again, not as a temporary replacement, in 1996. Surprisingly, this bowler holds a record for his batting prowess too. As funny with the bat as he was graceful with the ball, he holds the record for the maximum ducks(43). His first duck came against the Aussies in Brisbane in 1984.

The Aussies gave him the maximum, 13 ducks. Also he played three tests against Sri Lanka and got ducks in the first innings every time and did not bat in the other three. So he has no runs against them. On ten occasions, Walsh has managed a duck in the first innings and not batted on the second innings. He has more ducks than his highest score i.e.31. In 1995, his school named their cricket ground ‘the Courtney Walsh oval’ in his honour. He was known popularly as Duracell in Gloucestershire for which he played county cricket, because of his endurance. He made another record in 1998 for them, taking 800 wickets and scoring 2500 runs in county cricket. He was also the leading wicket taker that year in county cricket, with 106 wickets at an average of 17.06. 1998 was a fruitful year for Courtney. At Jamaica House in January that year, he was appointed the Ambassador at Large and Special Envoy of the government of Jamaica. In May, the Variety Sports Club of Britain named him the International Player of the Year.

Walsh was a true gentleman and exemplified the true spirit in which the game should be played on countless occasions. On 17th October 1987, West Indies played Pakistan. Courtney was bowling the last over. With one run and one wicket needed to decide the game, and with one ball left, tension was at fever pitch. As Courtney ran in to deliver the final ball, he noticed that Saleem Jaffer was backing up so far at the non-strikers end that he was out of his crease. Courtney could have run him out, and won the game for West Indies. But instead, he pulled up in his delivery stride, and warned the batsman. He then started all over again with the last delivery, off which Abdul Quadir scored two runs to win the game for Pakistan. Courtney’s West Indies team mates, and West Indian supporters in general were disbelieving, but Courtney was presented with a hand-woven carpet as a gesture of thanks for his sporting behavior.

The Jamaica phone book has on its cover, a picture of Courtney Walsh bowling. Written underneath is “Ambassador the Honorable Courtney Andrew Walsh, OJ. Leading wicket taker in Test Cricket History, 435 wickets on 27 March 2000 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica”.

Courtney Walsh

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