Legendary West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, who struck fear into the hearts of batsmen during his playing days, recently named three modern-day batsmen he would have loved to bowl to in today’s era.
With an illustrious career that saw him claim 405 wickets in 98 Test matches, Ambrose remains one of the most feared and respected bowlers in cricket history. Known for his menacing pace and relentless bounce, Ambrose dominated the 1990s, and when asked about today’s leading batsmen, he reflected on who he would relish bowling against.
Though cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Kumar Sangakkara have shaped the modern game, Ambrose—who holds Pakistan’s Wasim Akram in high esteem—expressed concern over the lack of recognition for bowlers in the current cricket landscape.
“Yes, I feel that way sometimes,” Ambrose admitted in an interview with ANI. “I’ve been in cricket for so long, and most of the time, when you ask someone about their favorite cricketer, they’ll name a batter. I’ve played many great matches alongside them, and I admire them. But as a former fast bowler, I tend to lean toward the bowlers. Wasim Akram is one of my favorite fast bowlers.”
Sharing his insights with emerging cricketers, Ambrose offered advice to those stepping into the sport, emphasizing the importance of red-ball cricket.
“I would advise young cricketers to work on their skill set and focus on playing more red-ball cricket,” Ambrose stated. “It’s easier to adapt from red-ball cricket to T20s, and many of the players excelling in T20s have a strong foundation in red-ball cricket, which helps them understand batsmanship and the construction of an innings.”
