Walsh on record-breaking mission Usually performing the role BY RW MATIDAS first Test at Brisbane, he joined of "workhorse" while bowling fellow West Indies bowlers, his heart out for the West AFTER 110 matches and Wes Hall and Lance Gibbs. to Indies, Walsh was rewarded for 423 wickets, West Indies ace achieve a rare hattrick, while his relentless drive for perfec­ fastbowler, Courtney Andrew being the first in Test history to tion when he erased Malcolm Walsh, now sets out on a mis­ complete the feat over two Marshall's tally of 376 as tl1e sion to become Test cricket's innings. highest West Indian Test wick­ highest wicket-taker when During the fourth Test at et-taker. the frrst of two-match series Sydney, the determined and at During the West Indies disas­ between the touring West times luckless Walsh became trous 1998-99 tour of South Indies and New Zealand the 12th West Indies bowler to Walsh equalled the starts on December 16 at claim 100 Test wickets. He Africa, record with the fourth ball of his Hamilton. · reached the landmark in his when the home side Walsh needs a· mere 12 wick­ 29th Test when wicketkeeper, second over opening Test at ets to overtake retired Indian Jeffrey Dujon, accepted a catch batted in the the second day. fast-medium all-rounder Kapil to dismiss centunon, David Johannesburg on wait, Walsh Dev's record tally of 434 Test Boon. After a two-hour to wickets from 131 matches. When India came to the removed Jacques Kallis (53) Interestingly, when Walsh Caribbean for a four Test series re-write the record books. played his last Test against New Zealand in the in 1989, Walsh, on home territory at Sabina He ended the day's play in second of two-matches at Wellington Basin Park, achieved his first 10-wicket haul in Tests South Africa 217-6 replying to Reserve in February, 1995, he claimed his best with six for 62 and four for 39. Windies 261 with figures of Test innin�s figures of seven for 37 and then Walsh's omission from the West Indies team four for 48, taking his tally to pocketed SIX for 18 to end with career best match for the fourth Test against England at 379 Test wickets. figures of 13 for 55. Kensington Oval in 1990 must have beena frus­ Back in the Caribbean for the While "Cuddy" as he is familiarly called, trating experience. opening day of the first Test keeps rolling along like "old man river'', after • The 32-year-old Barbadian pacer, Ezra against Australia at Queen's celebrating his 37th birthday last October 30, he Moseley, who made his debut in the third Test, Park Oval on March 5, 1999, remains the oldest fast bowler in Test cricket at was retained to complete a four-prong attack Walsh covered himself in glory present and also the longest serving at the high­ with Marshall, Ambrose and Bishop. by claiming his 400th Test est level. In 1983 Moseley had defied.the West Indies wicket. There has been no more faithful servant to Cricket Board by journeying to the forbidden After reaching the 300 mark West Indies cricket than Walsh, who was the land of South Africa and was now pardoned. in his 80th Test, it took Walsh I fifth player and first fastbowler from the West However, Walsh was back in the fold for the fifth 27 Tests to claim the next 00 Indies to reach the 100 Test landmark, following Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground, which the victims. distinguished batsmen, Vivian Richards (121 ), West Indies won to take the series 2-1. The great moment came Desmond Haynes (116), Clive Lloyd (110) and When Pakistan toured the Caribbean in 1993, when Walsh, in his 107th Test, Gordon Greenidge (108). Walsh reached another milestone when he sent back Australian wicket­ The road has never been easy for Walsh, who trapped Basit Ali lbw in Pakistan's second keeper, Ian Healy, by the lbw came on the international scene when the West innings of the second Test at Kensington Oval to route to become only the third Indies enjoyed fast bowling riches. claim his 200th Test wicket after nearly 10 years man to achieve the landmark, At age 22, Walsh was a member of West and 58 Tests. joining the illustrious company Indies squad for the tour of England in 1984, but While Walsh's name was seldom mentioned of India's record holder, Dev was overlooked and did not make his Test debut. among the greats of West Indies fast bowling, he (434), and New Zealand's Sir Another pace bowler, Winston Davis, on county became the lOth bowler and third West Indian Richard Hadlee (431). cricket assignment in England, was drafted into after Lance Gibbs and Malcolm Marshall to Happy hunting to "Cuddy" the team for the fourth Test when both pacers, achieve 300 Test wickets. It was a long wait. as he approaches Test cricket's Malcolm Marshall and Milton Small, were In his 80th Test, the sixth and final Test surnrnit. declared unfit. between the West Indies and England at the Oval Selected on the tour of Australia for the 1984- in the summer of 1995, Walsh needed just one 85 five-Test series, Walsh made his debut in the more wicket to reach the landmark. · opening Test at Perth. When England won the toss and elected to He did not bowl in Australia's first innings bat, Walsh went wicketless on the opening day. when Marshall, Garner and Holding bundled It was not until the third session on the second them out for a paltry 76. day that Walsh claimed the important wicket. He Walsh was given the ball in the second got relief when number eight batsman, Mike innin�s and claimed two for 43 when the Watkinson, edged a delivery to wicketkeeper, Wind1es won by an innings and 112 runs. Courtney Browne, and the celebration began Walsh carne out with distinction at the end of with elated teammates. 988-89 five Test series "Down Under". In the • THE WEEKEND OB_SERYE;F! �riq<}Y, _Qeqemt;>�r 10, � �9� .