ESPN Cricinfo
  • Live Scores
    • Live Scores Home
    • Schedule
    • Results
    • Month view
    • Season view
    • International calendar
    • Desktop Scoreboard
  • Series
    • Women's T20 WC (Warm-up)
    • Women's T20 WC
    • India v New Zealand
    • South Africa v England
    • Zimbabwe v West Indies
    • India v Australia
    • Women's T20I Tri-Series (SA)
    • WICB 4-Day
    • BBL 2022
    • BPL 2023
    • SA20 2023
    • ILT20 2023
    • Super Smash
    • Ranji Trophy
    • WPL 2023
    • Test Championship
    • CWC League 2
    • Women's Championship
    • CWC Super League
    • CWC League 2
    • -Future series-
    • -Archives-
  • Teams
      • Australia
      • Afghanistan
      • Bangladesh
      • Ireland
      • England
      • Namibia
      • India
      • Nepal
      • New Zealand
      • Netherlands
      • Pakistan
      • Oman
      • South Africa
      • PNG
      • Sri Lanka
      • Scotland
      • West Indies
      • UAE
      • Zimbabwe
      • USA
  • News
      • News Home
      • Future of ODIs
      • Ball-tampering
      • Technology in cricket
      • Racism
  • Features
      • Features Home
      • Writers
      • Photo galleries
      • The Cricket Monthly
  • Videos
      • T20 Time Out
      • T20 Time Out Hindi
      • Matchday
      • Polite Enquiries
      • News and Analysis
      • Match Analysis
      • Interviews
      • Features
      • Press Conference
      • YouTube
  • Stats
    • Stats home
    • AskCricinfo
    • Statsguru
    • SuperStats
    • 2023 records
    • 2022 records
    • All records
    • Players
    • Grounds
    • Rankings
  • IPL Auction
    • IPL Auction Live Blog
    • IPL Auction Squads
    • Videos on IPL Auction
    • Unsold Players
  • Edition IN
      • Africa
      • Bangladesh
      • New Zealand
      • Sri Lanka
      • United States
      • Australia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • United Kingdom
      • Global
    • Wisden Almanack
    • ESPN.in
    Feedback Sitemap About us Contact us Careers About Nielsen Measurement
  • Search
  • Home
  • Matches
  • Series
  • Video
  • More
Video Home
  • Videos
  • Rising Star
  • T20 Time Out
  • Fantasy Pick
  • POLITE ENQUIRIES
  • Newsroom
  • News and Analysis
  • Interviews
  • Features
  • Press Conference
  • YouTube

My XI Cricketers pick their favourites

  • Featured
  • Popular
  • Latest
Play
  • Share with FacebookShare
  • Share with TwitterTweet
Curtly Ambrose

'He demolished batting line-ups when it mattered'

Jun 26, 2013 Part seven: Allan Donald picks the most intimidating bowlers he has watched. This week: Curtly Ambrose

Produced by: Gokul Chakravarthy; Interviewer: Nagraj Gollapudi

Related:
  • Players/Officials : Curtly Ambrose

Login to post comments

X

Comments have now been closed for this article

  • Latest
  • All (19)
  • Featured (1)
  • Oldest

Loading comments

Siva on June 28, 2013, 4:11 GMT

I love Allan Donald. Legendary pacer, committed team man and generous coach. But his memory could be playing tricks here. He says Ambrose "hit him square on the head and get him out and then telling him where to go and stick the sweat band was brilliant… brilliant footage". I am not sure if all this happened. In that game he is talking about, Curtly did take 5-32 after Deano fired him up unintentionally. But Jones was not one of the five victims. Also, I don't recall Ambrose speaking anything rudely, actually anything at all, to any opposition cricketer ever. I don't think Donald was intentionally embellishing an already great anecdote. It is just probably what he would have done to Deano if he were the bowler.


Rob on June 28, 2013, 0:55 GMT

In my all time world XI - stupendously good bowler and proud man. Respect.


Scott on June 27, 2013, 11:45 GMT

He's my fav out of all fast bowlers ever. In 92-93 the Windies were playing awful, save from some Brian Lara magic in Sydney, and Allan Border thought he had the series won. Then Curtly said no. He suddenly became completely unplayable in the finals of the one-dayers and took I think 17 wickets in the final two test matches, including a spell in Perth of 7 wickets for 1 run. When experts pick their finest sides of all time and they pick their bowling line-ups of Lillee, Warne, Barnes or whoever, and pair them with a Bradman lead batting line-up, I just stop and think of the names of Holding, Marshall, Garner and Ambrose and wonder, do you think you've still got the best bowling line-up and how sure are you that Bradman is still going to be invincible? I would take an all-time West Indies team over an all-time best of the rest (I know that's ridiculous so just forgive me and think of some names)


Harsh on June 27, 2013, 8:55 GMT

Resembled a computerized bowling machine like few other paceman.What he lacked in pure pace or variety he compensated with phenomenal accuracy and consistency.No paceman of his ear was as relentless.Above all Ambrose bore the brunt of a weak batting team.

It was a photo-finish between Glen Mcgrath,Wasim Akram and Curtly Ambroes.However Ambrose was the ultimate match-winner particularly when defending low targets.He was the best bad wicket paceman of all time as he showed on deteriorating tracks in 4th innings.

Arguably he was more lethal than even Malcolm Marshall on Australian tracks.What may have gone against him is that he lacked the variety for sub -continent pitches.Neverthless he posessed a trajectory of his own.It was really sad that we never saw him on a test tour of India like his partner Courtney Walsh.

One of the most competitive and hostile cricketers ever who resembled a shark pouncing on his prey in full cry .


Harsh on June 27, 2013, 8:47 GMT

Curtly Ambrose was the most accurate and relentless pace bowler of his era.No paceman of his time could produce such steep bounce or bowl as well in 4th innings on deteriorating tracks.He was a connoction of the qualities of Holding,Roberts and Garner combining pace with agression,variety and lethal accuracy.Above all he was the best match-winner amongst great paceman of his era which he proved in his devastating match-winning spells in test matches like at Barbados versus England in 1990, at Perth in 1992-93 ,in Barbados in 1992 against South Africa against England in 1994 at Trinidad and in Melbourne in the 3rd test in 1996-97.His 7-1 at Perth in 1992-93 is arguably the best bowling spell ever displayed in Australia.He was a genius in defending low 4th innings targets and could run through a batting line up like rolling nine pins.

Unfortunately never proved himself like partner Walsh on the sub-continent tracks.The best paceman I have seen on bad wickets.


Dummy4 on June 27, 2013, 8:22 GMT

My favourite cricketer of all time, bar none. With King Curt, unplayable was everyday.


Dummy4 on June 27, 2013, 7:16 GMT

What Hayden said about Curtly Ambrose sums it up for me: "Curtly was the best opposition bowler I ever faced by far. You were always under pressure with him. Did he bowl a bad over ... ever? A bad ball? A full toss? I'm sure he did, but it never seemed that way when you were facing him". LEGEND!


Debakinandan on June 27, 2013, 6:34 GMT

One of the most mightiest fast bowler of the world cricket.He is the batsman nightmare.Do not know the world cricket can see this kind of fast bowler.You can say he is a true complete fast bowler.


Dummy4 on June 26, 2013, 20:55 GMT

Just watched all seven episodes in one sitting. Great stuff. Enjoying it immensely.


Dummy4 on June 26, 2013, 20:54 GMT

I remember all too well the spell that triggered England's 46 all out in the 94 series. Me and my old man watching and hoping that we'd knock off a reasonably small target, but when Curtly was in the mood there really wasn't much you could do.

It's worth remembering for all those who thought the Aussie dominance of the late 90s and early 2000's made them the best team of all time - it took them until 1995 to knock the Windies off their perch, and that was 10 years past their peak. The reason they held on to top spot for so long? Curtly and Courtney - what a great pair of bowlers

  • Part 1
    Play
  • Part 2
    Play
  • Part 3
    Play
  • Part 4
    Play
  • Part 5
    Play
  • Part 6
    Play
  • Part 7
    Play
  • Part 8
    Play
  • Part 9
    Play
  • Part 10
    Play
  • Part 11
    Play

Popular Videos

1

T20 Time:Out: Wasim Jaffer - New Zealand bowling will be tested

2

News and Analysis: India vs New Zealand - Wasim Jaffer - Dont expect spin to play too big a role in Ahmedabad in third

3

News and Analysis: Wasim Jaffer - India could look at Prithvi Shaw or Jitesh Sharma in place of Umran Malik - India vs

4

T20 Time:Out: Wasim Jaffer - I dont think current Indian batters play spin as well as players of my time

5

Features: WPL: BCCI rakes in big money on historic day

6

Press Conference: Hardik meets Dhoni - I took all the tips from him when we played together

Latest Videos

All Videos
  • Play 02:24

    Santner: 'We took the foot off the pedal at times'

    Press Conference New Zealand captain is disappointed that they blew the chance to win a series in India | Feb 2, 2023

  • Play 00:17

    Hardik Pandya: 'I will play Test cricket when it's the right time'

    Press Conference "Right now the focus is on white-ball cricket," says India's stand-in T20I captain | Feb 2, 2023

  • Play 03:32

    Hardik Pandya - 'Always felt Shubman Gill has the game to play all formats'

    Press Conference India's stand-in T20I captain also talks about what he expects of his team, and how his own game has evolved | Feb 2, 2023

  • Play 02:10

    शुभमन गिल की लाजवाब बल्लेबाज़ी के राज़ को डिकोड कर रहे हैं संजय मांजरेकर

    Hindi पूर्व भारतीय बल्लेबाज़ संजय मांजरेकर बता रहे हैं शुभमन की वह तकनीक जो उन्हें बना चुकी है विश्व क्रिकेट का बड़ा सितारा | Feb 2, 2023

  • Play 09:55

    जाफ़र: शुभमन गिल विश्व क्रिकेट में अपना क़द बढ़ा रहे हैं

    T20 Time:Out Hindi 'रनों के सैलाब की शुरुआत राहुल त्रिपाठी ने की' | Feb 1, 2023

  • Play 01:43

    हां या ना: शुभमन गिल 2024 टी20 विश्व कप में भारतीय टीम के सलामी बल्लेबाज़ होंगे?

    Haan Ya Naa न्यूज़ीलैंड के ख़िलाफ़ अहमदाबाद में भारत की सीरीज़ जीत से जुड़े अहम सवालों पर वसीम जाफ़र का फ़ैसला | Feb 1, 2023

  • Play 01:32

    Jaffer: Mavi has enhanced his reputation

    T20 Time:Out He also added that Malik has the potential but needs to develop variations especially in T20Is | Feb 1, 2023

  • Play 01:08

    Should New Zealand be concerned about their limited-overs form?

    T20 Time:Out Jaffer on a disappointing series for visiting batters ahead of the World Cup in October-November | Feb 1, 2023

  • Play 01:23

    Jaffer: Tripathi's cameo set up India's innings

    T20 Time:Out Wasim Jaffer on India's change in approach in limited-overs | Feb 1, 2023

More From My XI

  • Play 02:57
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    County Championship

    Defending champions Essex off the mark

    Apr 22, 2018 Catch up with the latest from the County Championship, as Surrey's Ollie Pope makes a century at the Oval and Somerset secure victory

  • Play 04:14
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'Marshall is my No. 1 fast bowler'

    Jan 29, 2016 Part 11: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Malcolm Marshall was the most intelligent quick bowler ever

  • Play 03:45
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'He would just keep coming all day'

    Jan 26, 2016 Part ten: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Dennis Lillee had tremendous stamina and the ability to adapt to any condition

  • Play 05:22
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'You had to play Shane the bowler, and the man'

    Jan 19, 2016 Part nine: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Shane Warne bowled the best flipper, and he always tried to psyche out batsme...

  • Play 03:44
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'His ability to swing the ball late was phenomenal'

    Jan 12, 2016 Part eight: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Wasim Akram was effective both over and round the wicket and was very diffic...

  • Play 04:23
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'He was quirky as a batsman and keeper'

    Jan 5, 2016 Part seven: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Alan Knott stood out for his glovework and footwork, and he was an iconic pl...

  • Play 03:20
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'He had the best footwork I've seen'

    Dec 22, 2015 Part six: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Martin Crowe's ability to transfer his weight at the crease made him a difficu...

  • Play 04:29
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'An amazing record for 20-plus years'

    Dec 12, 2015 Part 4: Graham Gooch on Sachin Tendulkar, who bore the crushing weight of expectation masterfully for over two decades

  • Play 04:21
    Share
    • Share
    • Tweet
    My XI

    'If you wanted a player to bat for your life, Border would be it'

    Dec 12, 2015 Part five: Graham Gooch on his toughest competitors: Allan Border was not eye-catching but he was uncompromising and focused on wi...

Loading more content
  • Sitemap
  • Feedback
  • RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Interest Based Ads
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • About Nielsen Measurement
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices