| If there ever was a cricketer, who lent credence to | | | | delivery that would rear up to unsuspecting batsmen |
| the notion that cricket is a gentleman's game, it was | | | | from a good length. Bowling wide of the crease and |
| Courtney Walsh. The tall and gentle giant was a true | | | | using his height to his advantage, Walsh generated |
| servant of cricket during his First-class career | | | | admirable bounce from most surfaces. |
| between 1981 and 2001. As a pace bowler for the | | | | Walsh's bowling compensated for his genuine batting |
| West Indies, he was the last world-class bowler to | | | | inability. He holds the unwanted Test record of the |
| play for the regional team. Even today, the West | | | | most "ducks" when batting. He has been dismissed |
| Indies is struggling to find a suitable replacement for | | | | for no score in Test matches on 43 occasions. Still, |
| the bowling legend. | | | | Walsh could bat a bit. He managed eight First-class |
| There were many remarkable attributes of this | | | | half-centuries with a highest score of 66. His |
| world-class fast bowler. The most notable of these | | | | Test-best was a respectable 30 not out. It is even a |
| was that Walsh was generally invulnerable to injuries. | | | | surprise that the number of wickets that he took |
| Fast bowling involves an unnatural action that places | | | | from 429 First class matches (1807) does not |
| stress on various body parts of the bowler. | | | | exceed his aggregate runs (4530). |
| However, Walsh- despite being able to bowl at over | | | | Surprisingly, Courtney only played for Gloucestershire |
| 90 miles an hour early in his career- endured. That his | | | | in the English County Championship. However, his |
| First Class career spanned 20 years reflects this. | | | | career with Gloucestershire was long and very |
| Walsh was the first bowler to break the 500-wicket | | | | successful. This was responsible for the amazing |
| mark in Test matches. He achieved this feat against | | | | number of matches that Walsh was able to play at |
| South Africa in 2001 and broke Kapil Dev's world | | | | First Class level. Most West Indian fast-bowlers barely |
| record in the previous year against Zimbabwe. Walsh | | | | managed more than 200 First class matches. |
| played a high number of Test matches; the most for | | | | Walsh would be remembered for his bowling |
| a fast bowler. In 132 Test matches, he garnered a | | | | partnership with the fiery Curtly Ambrose. These |
| then-world record of 519 wickets at an impressive | | | | two fast bowling legends took over 900 |
| average of 24.44. His ODI record was good as well- | | | | Test-wickets combined. They often shared the |
| 227 wickets from 205 matches. | | | | new-ball to destructive effect. England would |
| Courtney Walsh was not the typical menacing fast | | | | remember being destroyed for 46 runs under |
| bowler. His game face was merely focused and he | | | | pressure from Ambrose and Walsh. A true gentleman |
| was not given to gratuitous hostility to his opponents. | | | | and role model, Walsh is one of the all-time greats of |
| The only thing nasty about Walsh was the occasional | | | | the West Indies. |