Walsh becomes the first man to 500 Test wickets

[mhnew]

Courtney Walsh has created history by becoming the first bowler to take 500 Test wickets.

Bowling in the Second Test between West Indies and South Africa in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Walsh took the wicket of Gary Kirsten, caught behind, to move to 499 victims before trapping Kallis lbw just two balls later to reach 500.

A Test career that began against Australia back in 1984-85 in Perth, has seen the Jamaican achieve success all around the world, playing his 100th Test, against England in Georgetown, Guyana in February 1998.

Such sustained success is testament to extraordinary levels of fitness, skill and determination. Always reliable, and often inspired he has taken wickets against all opposition, on all surfaces. Capable of pace and hostility, he has, in recent years concentrated on consistency and seam movement to trouble batsman, even adding a wonderfully deceptive slower-ball to his armoury in his mid-30s.

His career has encompassed plenty of 'highs' in West Indian cricket, and a few 'lows' as he has seen his team dominate in the 80s and 90s before enduring harder times recently.

Walsh's bowling has remained a constant, however. Originally content to provide excellent support to the likes of Garner, Marshall and Holding, he has become an increasingly important member of the West Indies side, eventually taking the new ball and forming a great partnership with Curtley Ambrose.

Happy to bear a heavy work-load both for the West Indies, and in domestic cricket for Jamaica and Gloucestershire (he has also captained all three teams), he has snared nearly 1800 first-class wickets in all.

The achievement can, perhaps, be compared to Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile barrier. Although others may well pass the landmark in future it is far from certain that a seamer will ever do so again.

[Abs]

He shall go down as a legend in world cricket.... Ambrose cant be that far either. Once he has played as many matches as Walsh, he won't be too far off 500...... but he is ageing.
But West Indies future aint looking good. After Walsh and Ambrose...... eeeeerrrrr who is dat bowling?????? Mervin Dillon ... no where near the class of Walsh.

[Edited by Abs on 20th March 2001 at 22:26]

[mhnew]

Ambrose has already retired. he was just behind Wasim for 5th place on the all time. He has also crossed 400. But he can't continue. Well in the carribean the money is in Baseball, Basketball and soccer. Cricket is suffering as a result. Their future, don't know. Depressing for us hardcore WI supporters.

[Abs]

Thanks for da info... didn't know dat Ambrose retired

So u reckon any of da Bengali bowlers gonna join da top elite

[yasmin]

Well done Courtney.

What is more amazing is that he did it as a fast bowler. We're never going to see such a prolific bowler ever again. Only Murali and Warne look as though they might get up there but Warne has been out of form of late and Murali doesn't get any support from the other end so it's more difficult for him.

[mhnew]

Wasim's got a shot. He is at 405 at the moment. Give him another 5 years.

As for bangalis maybe in a hundred year. Realistically, it would take atleast 30 - 50 years and some great players.

[mhnew]

An ode to King Courtney
Hector 'Spags' John - 20 March 2001

KING COURTNEY
BORN OCTOBER 1962
WITH LOVE AND DISCIPLINE
JOAN RAISED YOU
YOUR SIMPLICITY AND COOL CHARACTER
GAIN YOU RESPECT THE WORLD OVER
1984 YOU MADE YOUR START
GRAHAM WOOD CAN CONFESS TO THAT
YOU DEFINE REAL STAMINA
FROM PERTH TO SABINA
WITH THE BALL YOU NEVER COMPLAIN
DOING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN
THAT'S WHY TODAY
KING COURTNEY REIGNS


GARNER HOLDING AND MARSHALL
COULD NOT GO ON
BUT IN 1989 CURTLEY AMBROSE
CAME ALONG
BREAKING RECORDS EVERYWHERE
OVER EIGHT HUNDRED TEST WICKETS
YOU BOTH SHARE
NO OTHER PAIR CAN COMPARE
SLIM AND TALL
WITH A CRICKET BALL
EXPECT WICKETS TO FALL
DAVID BOON AND IAN HEALY
WILL TELL YOU
KING COURTNEY IS COOL BUT DEADLY


WITH THE BAT
IS A DIFFERENT WORRY
FOR THE MOST DUCKS
YOU HOLD THE STORY
YOUR 'WELL LEFT' HAVE ENDLESS STYLE
BEATING PATRA DOING THE BUTTERFLY
AT 37, MARCH 27 2000
VICTIM 435 YOU TOOK AT HOME
HENRY OLONGA WICKET YOU OWN
BECOMING THE HIGHEST TEST WICKET TAKER
KAPIL DEV CONGRATULATED YOU FROM A FAR
CONSISTENCY AND QUALITY
BRINGS REWARD OF HUGE QUANTITY
KING COURTNEY TO YOU
'NUFF RESPECT DUE


TODAY YOU SEAT
ON YOUR RIGHTFUL THRONE
CAUSE THE 500 CLUB BELONGS
TO YOU ALONE
ALL ROUNDER JACQUES KALLIS
YOU ADDED TO THIS HISTORIC LIST
WITH DISTINCTION YOU HAVE SERVED
AND ONLY TOP HONOURS YOU DESERVE
LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY
YOU KEEP GOING ON AND ON
BRINGING JOY TO EVERYONE
AS YOU BRING DOWN THE FINAL CURTAIN
FOREVER KING COURTNEY WILL REIGN