Ambrose calls for WI bowlers to show professionalism
By Keith Holder
Guyana Chronicle
April 5, 2007
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Ace former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose has called on the current team’s bowlers to show more professionalism and not to try “too many things” on unresponsive pitches.
“The pitches nowadays aren’t really conducive for fast bowling and it can be a big turn-off,” Ambrose said in an exclusive interview with CMC CricketPlus.
“But I would say to the guys, just try and be professional enough, forget about the pitch and go out there and do the best that you can. Just keep it simple. Don’t do too many things and once you can bowl a proper line and length consistently, you will get wickets and will be successful.”
The tall Antiguan said he was disappointed with the progress of Brian Lara’s team since the end of the first round after they won all of their Group D matches in Jamaica.
“I can’t say that I am a happy man at the moment because we are not doing too well and as a West Indian and patriot, I can’t stand losing.”
Since the Super Eight started, West Indies have lost their first three matches against Australia (by 103 runs), New Zealand (by seven wickets) – both at the new Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, St Peter’s here - and Sri Lanka by 113 runs at another new venue, The Guyana National Stadium at Providence on Sunday.
West Indies must win their other three matches against South Africa at the Queen’s Park National Stadium in Grenada (April 10), Bangladesh (April 19) and England (April 21) – both at Kensington Oval in Barbados – to stand what is now a slight chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Ambrose reckoned that going into the Super Eight, West Indies should have been wary of batting the full allotment of overs, bearing in mind that net run rate could play a crucial role in their quest for a place in the last four.
Against Australia, West Indies were bowled out for 219 in 45.3 overs as they chased 323 for victory, and then fell for 177 in 44.4 overs against the Black Caps. They crumbled for 190 off 44.3 overs against Sri Lanka after being set 304 to win.
“Australia to me is the best team in the world and 322 was always going to be a challenging total. We needed a very good start which we never got,” Ambrose said.
“When you find yourself three down for about 30 runs chasing over 300, you are in serious trouble. We were hoping that skipper Lara and (vice-captain (Ramnaresh) Sarwan could have at least stayed there, at least towards the end and if that happened, we probably would have won the game.
“But having said that we found ourselves in a situation where we were going to lose and I thought the next best thing was to bat out the 50 overs and get to at least 270, 280 because I believe (net) run rate could play a big part towards the end of the Super Eight tournament. So getting bowled out inside 50 overs wasn’t really good for us.”
Ambrose also took issue with the controversial omission of young, gifted fast bowler Jerome Taylor for the match against New Zealand in preference to top order batsman Lendl Simmons, who batted as low as No.8 and scored 14 not out.
“I have always been of the opinion that you should never weaken your bowling to strengthen the batting. I figure if the batsmen you selected can’t do the job, then you replace them. That’s my view.
“I always had a problem with it during my playing career. That you always tend to weaken the bowling to strengthen the batting and I am not one for it really,” Ambrose asserted.
Ambrose said, however, he was not prepared to get into the finer details of the West Indies team selection.
“I really don’t like to comment too much or discuss team selection. I have my own personal views about things but I am just going to say ‘support the guys’. Whichever team is out there I am a West Indian.”
The 43-year-old Ambrose is the second highest West Indies Test wicket-taker behind fellow former new-ball partner Courtney Walsh with 405 scalps at an average of 20.99 in 98 matches between 1988 and 2000.
He is also the second highest West Indies wicket-taker in One Day Internationals, behind Walsh again, with 225 at 24.12 runs each and a mean economy rate of 3.48 in 176 matches.
Walsh hauled in 519 wickets in 132 Tests and 227 ODI wickets in 205 matches.
Ambrose described the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium which is located four miles east of the capital city St John’s, as “wonderful” but said more work needed to be done on the outfield.
“It is a wonderful stadium. I am very impressed with it. The only bad thing about the stadium is the outfield. To me it’s a bit disappointing. It looks pretty dry and stuff like that. That is the only negative part of it really, the outfield. I am not impressed at all but the stadium itself is a wonderful facility.”
At the moment Ambrose continues to enjoy his professional role as a musician with popular local group, Dread and The Ballhead.
“In terms of what I am doing these days, as you mentioned, it’s music. For me it’s just music, music and more music. Dread and The Ballhead is a nice group,” he said with his familiar broad smile.