WEST Indies fast bowling icon Courtney Walsh is hopeful of discovering a Bangladeshi Curtley Ambrose during his tenure with the country’s cricket programme.Walsh put pen to paper with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday, officially beginning a three-year contract that will see the former world record holder serve as Specialist Bowling Coach.
The newly-appointed Walsh stated that a primary part of his objective will not only be to identify, but to nurture and develop the nation’s talent.
“In terms of my role here in Bangladesh, I am not here just as a coach, I am here as a mentor as well. I have always been a part of cricket, as part of Jamaica and the West Indies. I always try to get a couple of fast bowlers under my wing to mentor,” Walsh told the media on Sunday.
“Curtly Ambrose was one of them. So if I can get a second Curtly Ambrose in Bangladesh I will be very happy because when he came into the team, I was one of the first one he looked up to and we probably had one of the best partnerships. So if I can pass that on to any two young Bangladeshi bowlers I will be very, very happy,” said Walsh.
Ambrose, who made his debut for the West Indies against Pakistan in 1988, went to form part of a fearsome bowling tandem with Walsh. Between them the duo managed to claim 924 Test wickets.