The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Spinners will hold the key in Test series: Ambrose

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Spinners will hold the key in Test series: Ambrose

St. John's (Antigua): Fast bowling great Curtly Ambrose says that spinners will have a key role to play in the upcoming Test series between India and West Indies as Caribbean conditions no longer favour the quick bowlers.

"The pitches in the Caribbean no longer find faster men licking their lips in anticipation. Instead, I expect spinners to play a big role in the forthcoming Test series,'' says the bowler, who claimed 405 wickets in 98 Tests at an average of 20.99.

Ambrose, described by former Australian captain Steve Waugh as the ``meanest and most perfect fast bowling machine of his time,'' looks at the West Indies team and identifies a few areas of concern.

``Somebody like Fidel Edwards is not bad. He has the potential. But he doesn't have anyone senior helping him through. He has to find his way through trial and error. I was lucky in this regard that I had the likes of Courtney Walsh and Malcolm Marshall sharing their experience with me,'' the Antiguan said.

``I remember an advice in particular from Marshall. He told me, `watch your figures. If you take care of your figures, you would be alright.'''

``It was a significant message. I realised the more you could dry up the runs, the better chances you stood in getting a batsman out,'' Ambrose said.

``I didn't like them anyway. A few of them were worthy but I wouldn't list their names now and make them feel happy. I hated conceding runs.''

But one name slips through.

``He was only 17-and-a-half when I watched his hundred in England in 1990 in the Manchester Test. I then said to myself, `Only 17, hmmm.'''

He has little hesitation in describing Sachin Tendulkar as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever graced the game.

``He is not over yet. He is just 33. He would recover from his injuries. He is still one of your best guys. You would surely miss him in the Test series.''

``I didn't like to be friendly with rivals. I wanted them to feel the heat. And I didn't like reporters because you people think you know everything,'' he said. No wonder Ambrose is arguably the least interviewed of all cricketing legends. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail