On this day, January 30, in 1993, the cricketing world saw a miraculous bowling performance from one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket, the West Indian great Curtly Ambrose. The Antigua and Barbuda born cricketer mesmerised the cricket fans with his magical spell at Perth Stadium against Australia as he took 7 wickets within 32 balls to restrict the Australian side to 119.
The wickets included the following players and it does contain some of the all-time greats:
- David Boon
- Mark Waugh
- Damien Martyn
- Allan Border (then captain of the side)
- Ian Healy
- Merv Hughes
- Jo Angel
Curtly Ambrose' Career In A Nutshell
The West Indian fast bowler, Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Abrose, is one of the greatest fast bowlers and probably amongst the greatest top five players to never win an ODI World Cup. The West Indian is amongst the tallest cricketing players ever to grace the 22-yard pitch and such was his fear of his bowling that his appearance and his presence was enough to get under the skin of the opposition.
The West Indian made his debut for the Carribeans as a 24-year old young fast sensation in both, One Day Internationals and Test internationals, in the year 1988, with the former coming against Pakistan at Kingston on March 12, and the latter coming against the same opposition at Georgetown on April 2 as the Imran Khan led side was touring the Carribean Island for ODI and Test series.
In 176 ODI matches, the West Indian scalped 225 wickets, with 4 five-wicket hauls, and in Tests, he made a mark for himself as his sheer pace and almost a 9 feet reach helped him scalp 405 wickets, with a highly impressive 22 five-wicket hauls.