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Loyal Walsh symbolizes binding force of Caribbean cricket
Posted: Tuesday March 28, 2000 12:40 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Political unity has eluded the West Indies' islands after an ill-fated attempt at federation in the 1950s. In its absence cricket has been the binding force in the Caribbean, symbolized in recent years by the long and deceptively languid figure of Jamaican fast bowler Courtney Walsh. On Monday before an adoring home crowd at Sabina Park in Kingston, Walsh reaped the reward of his unstinting devotion to West Indies' cricket by capturing a world record 435th test wicket in the second test against Zimbabwe. "Whenever things don't go well, I've always said 'remember Courtney'," his grateful captain and fellow-Jamaican Jimmy Adams said. Former England captain Mike Atherton believes Walsh's contribution to Caribbean cricket transcends his technical excellence. "Returning to the West Indies in 1998, it struck me that Courtney epitomized and carried on that tradition of West Indian leaders from the likes of Frank Worrell to Clive Lloyd who put regional solidarity before island rivalry," he said. As former skipper Lloyd has pointed out, cricket affects not only the six million people spread throughout the Caribbean but also the equivalent number scattered through the West Indies' diaspora. Recent reverses, particularly successive humiliations at the hands of Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand, generated despair throughout the islands and deeply affected Walsh. In response he suggested to the West Indies Cricket Board that they move the distinctive badge of palm tree and pitch on a green isle in a blue sea from the right to the left on the team shirt. Placing the famous symbol over the heart reflects the determination and commitment of Walsh to his team and craft after the better part of two decades. Throughout the 1980s, Walsh was never certain of his place in the West Indies' side. When he did play he was used as a stock bowler and wherever the wind blew, Walsh bowled against it.
Richards praises WalshLloyd was succeeded by Viv Richards, who soon learned to appreciate Walsh's unflagging contribution."I was able to get inside the man Courtney Walsh a little more and got to understand what wonderful man he really is," Richards recalled. 'During my captaincy Courtney always gave me his all as he was promoted to use the new ball." Under Richards, Walsh developed into a consummate performer with both new and old ball. He continued to hone his skills while delivering endless overs throughout the world, as Atherton was to find out the hard way. "During the 1994 test at Sabina Park, he bowled one of the fastest spells I have ever faced," Atherton said. "The conditions were perfect for him; a frenzied home crowd, a fast, shimmering pitch and a young, unproven English captain as a target at the other end." The years rolled by and, throughout good and bad times, Walsh in partnership with Curtly Ambrose was a constant threat. At the age of 37 he is still capable of genuine pace, loping to the wicket with the grace of an Olympic middle-distance runner and generating disconcerting speed and wicked movement off the pitch with his deceptive wrist action. "He always troubled me the most," said former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell, a long-time teammate of Walsh at Gloucestershire. "Ambling in off that smooth run you just don't know when he will produce that 'effort' ball, the one that appears to be bowled with the same action but picks up pace, angling in at the batsman, sending the 'keeper off balance as he tries to get the ball jagging back." Walsh captained Gloucestershire and, briefly, a West Indies' side in swift decline before handing over to Brian Lara. He was dignified in both victory and defeat and, typically, on Monday his first thoughts were for his team rather than himself when he broke Kapil Dev's six-year-old record. "It's a great feeling and very satisfying at the end of the day to have broken the record but the most important thing is for us to win the test match," he said. "When it came it is was a sigh of relief, finally it's over." Loyalty to club, country and team has motivated Walsh throughout his career. He regularly attends his Jamaican club Melbourne and his mother Joyce Wollaston watched proudly on Monday as he bowled the West Indies to the brink of victory. "I am delighted, not only in his performance but the amount of tributes that have been paid to him throughout his career," she said. Keen as he was to get the record in front of his own supporters, including disc jockey Zum Jay who repeatedly played a reggae tune called "Tribute to Courtney," Walsh remained first and foremost a team man. "I didn't beg the captain for the ball when there was only two wickets left," he said. "I told him that whenever he wanted me I would be ready."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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