Birthday Special: Courtney Walsh – Fast, brutal & a true workhorse

Cricket in the 21st century is undeniably a batsman’s game. But there was a time when fast, raw and mean pace bowlers dominated the game. And the land of most of such pacers was West Indies. The Caribbean island gave cricket some of the best fast bowlers in the history of cricket. One such iconic and perhaps the most successful bowler has been Courtney Walsh.

Born on 30th October 1962, Walsh made his Test debut in 1984 when fast bowling greats like Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall were heading towards the final few years of their careers. Up against Australia at Perth, Walsh straightaway made an impact, picking 2 wickets. His ODI debut followed the very next year. Walsh was tall and menacing, just like the legends before him. He didn’t possess the same pace as Holding and Marshall but made excellent use of his height- 6’6 – in extracting bounce and being a danger to the batsmen. He went on to have a wonderful career, having played 132 Tests and 205 ODIs. While Walsh managed to get 227 scalps in ODIs, he was the first bowler to reach the 500-mark, with 519 wickets to his name.

Mr. Consistent

Walsh displayed unreal consistency year after year and successfully managed to take over the mantle of fast bowling from the legends. In 1987, he was named  one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year for his performance in 1986. In 1994, his calm temperament and leadership skills led him to take over the captaincy of the West Indies team. He led them in 22 Tests, of which West Indies managed to win 6 games.

In the 1990s, the partnership of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose was amongst the most feared in world Cricket. In 1995, Walsh picked up as many as 62 wickets, but he bettered that performance by claiming 66 in 2000. This is even more remarkable because Walsh called time on his ODI career in 2000 and Test career in 2001.

Walsh was always known for his integrity and sportsman spirit. He never got himself into unnecessary controversies and always maintained the decorum playing the game. Since his retirement, Walsh has gone on to contribute immensely to the game, having been the coach of several national teams. Recently, he was announced as the coach of the West Indies’ women’s team. With his experience and knowledge, he is sure to take the team to great heights. Wishing a very happy birthday to the legend, Courtney Walsh!