Editing Curtly Ambrose (section)

==Leading bowler in the world==

===Series against Australia and England===
West Indies toured Pakistan in late 1990, and Ambrose topped the team's bowling averages in a three-match series which was drawn 1–1. He took 14 wickets at 17.07,<ref>Ahmed (1992), pp. 1,012–13.</ref> but was overshadowed slightly by the performances of [[Ian Bishop (cricketer, born 1967)|Ian Bishop]].<ref>Ahmed (1992), p. 1,011.</ref> He played the first two ODIs, but missed the third after Pakistan had already won the series, and his best figures in the Tests came in the final match when he took five for 35.<ref>Ahmed (1992), pp. 1,014–16, 1,022.</ref> Then, when Australia toured West Indies from February 1991, Ambrose took 18 wickets in the five Tests at an average of 27.38. West Indies won the series 2–1, and Ambrose was fourth in the averages,<ref>Cozier (1992), p. 1,044.</ref> but Tony Cozier observed in ''Wisden'' that the whole West Indies attack was dependable.<ref name=Aus90>Cozier (1992), p. 1,043.</ref> Ambrose made an impression batting as part of a West Indian [[Batting order (cricket)#Lower order or tail|lower batting order]] which repeatedly added crucial runs during the series. He took part in two important partnerships to help his team recover from a difficult situation,<ref name=Aus90/> and in the third match, he scored his only half-century in Tests.<ref name=figures/> He also took 20 first-class wickets for Leeward Islands.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Cozier | first = Tony | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1992| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Cricket in the West Indies, 1990–91| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-18-9| page = 1,135}}</ref>

West Indies' next matches were in England. The Test series was drawn 2–2 and Ambrose was the team's leading wicket-taker with 28 (averaging 20.00); he also came top of the bowling averages.<ref>Berry (1992), pp. 297–98.</ref> He had a particular impact on [[Graeme Hick]], who was appearing in Test cricket for the first time, dismissing him six times in seven innings with short-pitched bowling. Accurate bowling was important in the series, played on a series of slow-paced pitches; according to [[Scyld Berry]], writing in ''Wisden'', "Since the 1988 tour, Ambrose had improved his control to the point where a batsman had to play almost every ball—and not with a scoring stroke, either".<ref name=Eng91>Berry (1992), p. 294.</ref> Berry suggests that West Indies may have won the series had Viv Richards used a different tactical approach with Ambrose's bowling. The bowler was not fully fit in the final Test, which may have affected the outcome. Berry describes "Ambrose's rise to the status of a giant—with the mannerism of celebrating each wicket by whirling his arms upwards, like a flock of doves taking to the air."<ref name=Eng91/> Ambrose twice took five wickets in an innings—his best figures were six for 52 in the first Test, when he twice took wickets with consecutive deliveries.<ref name=figures/><ref>Callaghan, John in Berry (1992), pp. 309.</ref> Ambrose was named man-of the-match in the third Test and adjudged West Indies man-of-the-series.<ref>Berry (1992), pp. 317, 328.</ref> For his performances, Ambrose was named one of ''Wisden's'' [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year|Cricketers of the Year]]. The citation remarked on his consistency and stated: "Ambrose has the ability to exert a debilitating psychological influence which so often precipitates a cluster of wickets after the initial breach has been made&nbsp;... Moreover, he was arguably the essential difference between the two sides in what proved to be a zestful series."<ref name=coy/> The West Indies [[wicket-keeper]], [[Jeff Dujon]], said: "He is mature beyond his years, has pace, accuracy, heart and determination, plus, importantly, real pride in economical figures."<ref name=coy/>

===Victory against South Africa===
[[File:Courtney Walsh (1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Courtney Walsh]], Ambrose's bowling partner in many Test matches|alt=A man in a blue cap]]
During the 1991–92 season, West Indies played mainly one-day cricket, taking part in tournaments in Sharjah<ref>{{Cite book | last = Ahmed | first = Qamar| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1993 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew |publisher=John Wisden & Co| chapter = Wills Trophy, 1991–92| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-20-0| page = 1,045}}</ref>—where Ambrose took seven wickets, including an analysis of five for 53<ref name=ODI/>—and Australia,<ref>{{Cite book | last = Rutnagur | first = Dicky| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1993 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Benson and Hedges World Series Cup, 1991–92| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-20-0| page = 1,055}}</ref> and took part in the [[1992 Cricket World Cup|World Cup in Australia and New Zealand]]. In this tournament, Ambrose took seven wickets in seven games at an average of 33.57 and was the seventh most economical bowler among those who played more than one game.<ref>{{Cite web| url =  http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/best_career_economy_rate.html?id=665;type=tournament| title = Cricket Records: Benson & Hedges World Cup, 1991/92 | work = ESPNcricinfo| access-date = 1 September 2012}}</ref> West Indies finished sixth in the qualifying table and failed to reach the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Frith | first = David| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1993 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew |publisher=John Wisden & Co| chapter = Benson and Hedges World Cup, 1991–92| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-20-0| page = 965}}</ref> Ambrose returned home to play twice for the Leeward Islands in January 1992.<ref name=figures/>

In April 1992, [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] toured West Indies for the first time,<ref>Dean (1993), p. 1,036.</ref> and played their first Test match for 22 years.<ref name=Vice>{{Cite web| last = Vice | first = Telford |url =  http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/420688.html| title = Last day at Kensington Oval always belongs to us | work = ESPNcricinfo| date = 24 January 2010| access-date = 1 September 2012}}</ref> Ambrose played in all three ODIs, all of which were won by West Indies.<ref>Dean (1993), p. 1,037–39.</ref> The Test match was the first time West Indies bowled under a new playing regulation which permitted only one [[Bouncer (cricket)|bouncer]] per over; this seemed to affect the home bowlers,<ref name=SA92>Dean (1993), p. 1,039–40.</ref> but Ambrose took two for 47 from 36 overs.<ref name=figures/> South Africa began the final day of the match requiring 79 runs to win with just two batsmen out, but Ambrose and [[Courtney Walsh]] took the last eight wickets for 26 runs to bowl West Indies to a 52-run win.<ref name=SA92/> On a difficult pitch for batting, the ball bounced unevenly, and both bowlers concentrated on accuracy.<ref name=Vice/> Ambrose took six for 34 in the second innings, and was named joint man of the match; in just over 60 overs, he took eight for 81 in the match.<ref name=SA92/>

Returning to play for Northamptonshire, he was less effective. Hampered by a knee injury, which necessitated surgery after the English season, and suffering from many dropped catches, he took 50 first-class wickets at an average of 26.14, but his performance compared unfavourably with other bowlers on the team. He was more effective in the [[Friends Provident Trophy#Knock-out competition|NatWest Trophy]], a one-day competition that Northamptonshire won that season, in which he conceded fewer than two runs per over across five games.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Radd | first = Andrew| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1993 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Northamptonshire in 1992| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-20-0| pages = 473–76}}</ref>

===Second tour of Australia===
The West Indies toured Australia in 1992–93, recovering from losing the second Test to win the final two matches and take the series 2–1. The team also won the annual [[Australian Tri-Series|World Series Cup]]. In the first three Tests, Ambrose was hampered by pitches which did not suit his bowling and, according to Tony Cozier writing in ''Wisden'', was often unlucky when he bowled,<ref name=Aus92>Cozier (1994), pp. 1,044–47.</ref> although he took five for 66 in the first Test.<ref name=figures/> In the final two Tests, he took 19 wickets.<ref name=Aus92/> In the fourth he took ten wickets, including six for 74 in the first innings; in the second innings, he took three wickets in 19 deliveries and the West Indies won the match by one run. According to Cozier, the captains of both teams, [[Richie Richardson]] and [[Allan Border]], "paid tribute to the man who made the result possible: Ambrose consolidated his reputation as the world's leading bowler".<ref>Cozier (1994), pp. 1,057–58.</ref> On the first day of the decisive final Test, Ambrose took seven wickets at the cost of one run from 32 deliveries and finished with figures of seven for 25. Cozier described it as "one of Test cricket's most devastating spells".<ref name="Cozier 5th Test">Cozier (1994), pp. 1,059–60.</ref> West Indies won by an innings and Ambrose was named man of the series,<ref name="Cozier 5th Test"/> having taken 33 wickets to equal the record in an Australia-West Indies Test series. He topped the West Indian bowling averages with an average of 16.42.<ref name=Aus92/> Cozier described Ambrose's performance as "instrumental in winning [the series]" and his bowling as "flawless".<ref name=Aus92/>

In the one-day tournament, Ambrose took 18 wickets at 13.38.<ref name=ODI/> He took eight wickets in the two-match final—both games were won by the West Indies.<ref name=Aus92/> In the first final, he took five for 32, driven to bowl with more hostility when the Australian batsman [[Dean Jones (cricketer)|Dean Jones]] asked him to remove his white wristbands while bowling. He followed up with three for 26 in the second match to be named player of the finals.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Cozier | first = Tony| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1994 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Benson and Hedges World Series Cup, 1992–93| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-22-7| page = 1,112–14}}</ref>
After a one-day tournament in South Africa, West Indies returned home for Test and ODI series against Pakistan. The ODI series was drawn,<ref name=ODI/><ref name=P93/> but the West Indies defeated Pakistan 2–0 in the Tests. Ambrose took nine wickets at 23.11 to be fifth in the team bowling averages. The ''Wisden'' report suggested that he was suffering from fatigue after his team's busy schedule, but although not at his best, he continued to take important wickets.<ref name=P93>{{Cite book | last = Rutnagur | first = Dicky| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1994 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = The Pakistanis in the West Indies, 1992–93| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-22-7| page = 1,087–89}}</ref> For Northamptonshire in 1993, Ambrose was second in the team first-class bowling averages with 59 wickets at 20.45.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Radd | first = Andrew| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1994 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Northamptonshire in 1993| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-22-7| page = 529}}</ref>

Having developed a [[slower ball]], and using the yorker more sparingly,<ref name=Harris>{{Cite news | last = Harris |first = Norman |title = Deadly dark destroyer at the height of his powers | newspaper = The Observer  | location = London  | page = B12 | date = 16 January 1994}}</ref> Ambrose took five wickets in three games as West Indies won an ODI tournament in Sharjah in late October and November 1993.<ref name=ODI/><ref>{{Cite book| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Pepsi Champions Trophy, 1993–94| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3|page = 1,139–44}}</ref> The team competed in another tournament, this time in India, later that November. They finished as runners-up, and Ambrose took four wickets in five matches.<ref name=ODI/><ref>{{Cite book| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Hero Cup, 1993–94| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3|page = 1,145–54}}</ref> Immediately following this, West Indies toured Sri Lanka to play three ODIs and a Test, a rain-ruined match in which Ambrose took three wickets.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Rutnagur | first = Dicky | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = The West Indians in Sri Lanka, 1993–94| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3|page = 1,071–76}}</ref>

===More success against England===
[[File:Queens Park Oval Trinidad.jpg|thumb|Ambrose took six for 24 to bowl England out for 46 at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad.]]
When he returned to the West Indies, Ambrose took 19 first-class wickets for the Leeward Islands at an average of 11.68,<ref>{{Cite book| last = Cozier | first = Tony | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Cricket in the West Indies, 1993–94| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 1,217}}</ref> in his first appearances for the islands in two years,<ref name=figures/> but as England arrived to tour West Indies, he complained of fatigue and there were rumours he planned to retire.<ref name=Allott>{{Cite news | last = Allott |first = Paul |title = The murderous scowl that means Ambrose is a happy man | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 23 | date = 31 March 1994}}</ref> He played in three times in the five-match ODI series, taking two wickets, and took a further two wickets in the first Test, which West Indies won.<ref name=ODI/><ref name=1T94>Lee (1995), pp. 995–1,001.</ref> In ''Wisden'', Alan Lee described his performances at this time as "lethargic",<ref>Lee (1995), p. 1,002.</ref> and in the ''Guardian'', Paul Allott wrote that he bowled "like a shadow" owing to the effects of continuous cricket.<ref name=Allott/> Ambrose was ineffective at the start of the second Test, but recovered,<ref name=Allott/> ending the match with eight wickets;<ref name=figures/> according to Lee, he "struck the critical blows of the match" in the first innings.<ref name=1T94/> In the third Test, played in Trinidad, he took five for 60 in England's first innings, but after the visiting team built a substantial lead, West Indies were bowled out to leave England needing 194 to win and an hour to bat on the fourth evening. Ambrose took six wickets to leave England 40 for eight at the close of play; the next morning, they were bowled out for 46 and Ambrose had figures of six for 24 in the innings and match figures of 11 for 84;<ref name=3T94>Lee (1995), pp. 1,005–06.</ref> he was named man of the match. Lee described the collapse as "staggering", and judged Ambrose bowling to be "of the highest calibre". He continued: "He delivered one of the most devastating spells of even his career."<ref name=3T94/> Allott called it "the definitive spell of fast bowling".<ref name=Allott/>

Ambrose took four wickets in the fourth Test, but West Indies lost the match, their first defeat in Barbados for 59 years, and Ambrose was fined £1,000 by the [[match referee]] for knocking down his stumps in frustration when he was the last man out.<ref>Lee (1995), p. 1,009.</ref> He took one more wicket in the drawn final Test to finish the series with 26 wickets and top the West Indian bowling averages.<ref name=figures/><ref>Lee (1995), p. 992.</ref> Writing in ''Wisden'', Lee summarised Ambrose's performances: "Ambrose was magnificent. He was deservedly named man of the series, not only for taking 26 wickets at an average of 19.96 apiece and winning the Trinidad Test single-handed, but for the more profound truth that West Indies now look to him whenever they need wickets&nbsp;... [He] carried the attack alone".<ref>Lee (1995), p. 990.</ref>

Ambrose returned to play for Northamptonshire in 1994, but arrived later than scheduled. Claiming to need a rest,<ref name=Hopps>{{Cite news | last = Hopps |first = David |title = Northants must manage without Ambrose while he takes a rest | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 23 | date = 26 April 1994}}</ref> he missed his scheduled flight and arrived four days late.<ref name=Radd94>{{Cite book | last = Radd | first = Andrew| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Northamptonshire in 1994| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 553}}</ref> His absence may have contributed to Northamptonshire's elimination in the preliminary stages of the [[Benson and Hedges Cup]].<ref>{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Benson and Hedges Cup in 1994| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 701}}</ref> At the time, members of the county were unhappy with Ambrose's performances for the team;<ref name=Hopps/> the committee fined him, and he expressed contrition.<ref>{{Cite news  |title = Northants to fine Ambrose | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 21 | date = 27 April 1994}}</ref> During the remainder of the season, he bowled extremely effectively to take 77 first-class wickets, the most for the club in 18 years, at an average of 14.45 to top the national bowling averages. According to Andrew Radd in ''Wisden'', the club were mollified by his success, but he wrote: "Rarely in Northamptonshire's history have the performances and the personality of one cricketer dominated a season to the extent that Curtly Ambrose did in 1994."<ref name=Radd94/> Ambrose missed the final match of the season with a shoulder problem.<ref name=Radd94/>