Many more happy returns of the day - Curtly - 21-September-2013

About Ambrose:

Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose (born 21 September 1963) is a former cricketer from Antigua who played 98 Test matches for the West Indies. A fast bowler, he took 405 Test wickets at an average of 20.99 and topped the ICC Player Rankings for much of his career to be rated the best bowler in the world. His great height—he was 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall—allowed him to make the ball bounce unusually high after he delivered it; allied to his pace and accuracy, it made him a difficult bowler for batsmen to face.

Special Day:

Former West Indies cricketers have lauded their colleague Curtly Ambrose on his 50th birthday.

The former Antiguan, Leeward Islands and West Indies pacer celebrated his half century on Saturday and former captain Sir Vivian Richards, former pacers Courtney Walsh, Kenneth Benjamin and Winston Benjamin all appeared on a local radio programme alongside Ambrose on Friday.

Richards Comments:

Richards, who captained Ambrose from 1988 to 1991, said the determined bowler put a lot of work into his game, calling him a “dream to captain”.

“He is one of those individuals who spent time on the field. You look at modern day fast bowlers, they play two matches and miss six, and things like that cannot keep a steady routine,” he said during the programme.

“But this guy is strong regardless of this boney frame, seriously strong, and that is why he was able to accomplish what he did in terms of the wickets he got in Test match cricket.”

Walsh Interview:

Walsh said, “I say it without fear anywhere I go — Ambrose is like my brother. I played more against Winston, and Kenny in county cricket because ‘Ambi’ came on to the scene late in terms of that and didn’t like much of it and we have always been friends; but Ambrose and I have built up a certain bond and if it wasn’t for cricket and the things we did on the field, probably that bond would not be there.”

“We didn’t compete against each other. We complemented each other.”

“Ambi”, as he is affectionately known to his former teammates, thanked those gathered for believing in him and his ability to do well.

“I was surrounded by some wonderful players as well, which made it a lot easier, so I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It was a pleasure for me to represent my country with distinction,” Ambrose added.

Ambrose and his former teammates toasted champagne and a cake which depicted a field with a cricket pitch in the middle as well as a ball that had knocked over the stumps