ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- Fast bowling legend Curtly Ambrose says a regional effort is needed if West Indies cricket is to recapture its glory days and return to the upper echelons of the world game.
The former West Indies fast bowler has stressed that the job of resuscitating the game in the region cannot be just the responsibility of one territory. “For West Indies cricket to get back anywhere near to where it once was, it has to be a regional effort” said Ambrose while speaking on Sportsline, a programme on ZDK Radio in his native Antigua over the weekend.
“No one territory can do it; everybody has got to get involved”.
Ambrose’s appearance on the programme was part of his 49th birthday celebrations.
He shares a birth date with big hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who turned 33 on Friday.
“Back in the day when we were the best in the world, everybody was on board doing what they had to do, we had problems back then yes, but now all of us have to pitch in,” said the former fast bowler who appeared in 98 Tests and took 405 wickets along with 225 One Day International scalps.
His stint as Combined Campuses and Colleges Bowling Consultant has been hailed by the team as hugely successful and he is expected to continue in the role in the upcoming regional cricket season. The Antiguan, who retired in 2000 following a 12 year international career, has expressed regret that not enough was done during the heyday of West Indies cricket to harness young talent.
“When we were the best team in the world producing top class cricketers, very little was done to harness the young aspiring cricketers” said Ambrose famed for his 6 for 24 contributing to bowling out England for 46 in Trinidad and his 7 for 1 against Australia at Perth.
“We just believed that we will continue to produce great cricketers and when all the great cricketers left the scene we had a bunch of young rookies trying to keep up the standard and it just was not possible and we paid a serious price for that”.
Ambrose is also a widely acclaimed up-and-coming regional and international radio and television commentator.
