The Week India – July 14, 2019

JULY 14, 2019 • THE WEEK 53

■ INTERVIEW

Sir Curtly Ambrose

former West Indies pace bowler

Happy to see fast

bowlers come back

into the game

BY NEERU BHATIA/Manchester

SIR CURTLY ELCONN LYNWALL

AMBROSE, arguably the greatest
bowler of his generation, was a man
of few words during his playing days.
Th e man who once told a journalist
“Curtly talks to no one”, is now in
England as a radio commentator for
BBC. Th e 1992 Wisden Cricketer of
the Year was bowling consultant to
the West Indies for three years, until
he was replaced just ahead of the
World Cup. Th ough disappointed,
Ambrose, typically, chose not to
be vocal about it. He spoke to THE
WEEK during the India-West Indies
match. Edited excerpts:

Q/ Fast bowlers have been grabbing
headlines in this World Cup—Mo-
hammad Amir, Mitchell Starc,
Jasprit Bumrah.... Your thoughts on
the talent on display.
A/ I like Bumrah. He is one of best
bowlers in the world. He has a very
straight action. He is totally diff erent
from any other bowler I have seen.
He basically walks up to the crease
and takes a couple of steps, but gen-
erates great pace. I am quite happy to
see that all the teams have a couple
of good fast bowlers. Th ere was a
point when spinners were domi-
nating. I am quite happy to see fast
bowlers come back into the game.

Q/ Are you surprised that the wick-
ets have not been totally fl at?
A/Before the World Cup started, I
thought it was going to be high scor-
ing. But it is not so. I am quite happy
that it is a bit of an even contest
between bat and ball.

Q/ Is it because conditions changed
midway through the tournament?
A/Th e surfaces are a little helpful
to the bowlers, which is important.
In recent years, groundsmen have
tended to prepare fl atter surfaces
and shorter boundaries. Now that
surfaces are a little helpful to bowl-
ers, it makes scoring tougher.

Q/ Your thoughts on the use of two

new balls. It has aff ected swing and

reverse swing is barely visible.

A/I like two new balls. Sometimes

the ball gets worn out a lot and there

is nothing for the bowlers. It is true

that there has been less reverse

swing, and only the occasional swing.

But, look at the scores! It shows that

bowlers doing quite well.

Q/ Your thoughts on the West In-

dies bowling unit.

A/Th ey showed great discipline

against India. In the initial games,

they bowled too short, too often.

Th ere is nothing wrong in bowling

short, but I thought it did not really

work. And they failed to change,

especially against Pakistan.

Q/ Jason Holder was the standout

bowler against India. Comments?

A/He has the ability to contain

batsmen. Early on he too, was caught

up in this short ball stuff. Th at is not

his style. He should bowl decent line

and length that can contain batsmen.

Against India, he showed that.

Q/ Is the future of West Indies

cricket promising?

A/Ye s. Th ey have a bunch of young

guys. Th e future is looking bright as

long as they do not chop and change,

which they tend to do. If there is

continuity, you will see a resurgence

in West Indies cricket.

AFP