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| |  Monday, 23 April, 2001, 09:42 GMT 10:42 UK Farewell to Courtney  Walsh: Worshipped by Caribbean cricket fans As Courtney Walsh retires from Test cricket, former fast bowler Franklyn Stephenson pays a personal tribute. It is almost 20 years since Franklyn Stephenson first found himself in opposition to Courtney Walsh. In those days, the teenage Walsh was a "tall, skinny youngster, but full of life and enthusiasm". He went on to become the most successful fast bowler of all time and the only man in history to take 500 Test wickets. Walsh has now decided to call time on his international career after 17 years of loyal and hard-working service in the West Indies cause, in good times and in bad. And Stephenson believes that although statistics will show Walsh as one cricket's true greats, it is as a consummate team man that he will be remembered.
They first found themselves in opposition when Walsh played for Jamaica against Barbados in the Shell Shield in 1982. Walsh later succeeded Stephenson as overseas player for Gloucestershire, a relationship with the English county side which was to last 14 years. "I really admire Courtney. He's one of the fittest guys I've ever seen," Stephenson told BBC Sport Online. "His heart, his belief and his love for the game has kept him going because he played so many games for Gloucester and returned to play diligently and wholeheartedly for Jamaica as well. "I think he's been a marvellous ambassador for the game." Walsh leaves the West Indies at a low ebb after after losing three Test series in a row - a far cry from his debut in an all-conquering side on their 1984-85 tour. He had Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner to call on for advice and did not waste the opportunity
"In the West Indies team at that time, you were happy to have the ball in your hand because after your first spell, you were never guaranteed a second. "At a very young age he learned that when you hade the ball in your hand, you were the one that was special, you had the chance to put it in and make it happen, and I think that's carried on throughout his career," said Stephenson. "Courtney had a chance to see guys in front of him giving their all. thinking that batsmen shouldn't be there for any long period of time. He learned that from very good players." Walsh has made the most of his physical advantages, most notably his height. "I remember playing for Sussex against Gloucester and thinking the wicket wasn't very quick. I got quite a bit of success by pitching the ball up and swinging it a little bit both ways. "We worked hard and managed to get them out but then he just came on and banged the ball in back of a length and got more success than I did.
"Being tall is a definited advantage in bowling quick. A lot of tall fast bowlers lose it by delivering the ball from too low a trajectory, but he's been a model of consistency, coming over the top and hitting a length," Stepehenson explained. So where does Walsh rate among the legends of West Indies cricket? "If you're looking for all-time greats, you have to look for guys who are very dynamic, quick or downright fearsome. "But you also need to look for the lion-hearted ones, the ones who are going to keep running in on the flattest of wickets and he's definitely going to be pretty much topping the bill. "He isn't the greatest outswing bowler, or inswing bowler, or bouncer bowler, but late in the day he'll still be running in full pelt when everybody else has their tongues hanging down and arms akimbo." Farewell Courtney, it's time to take a rest. | |
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