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Courtney visits Australia once a year and is available for keynote speaking appearances
Major Teams: Jamaica, Gloucestershire, West Indies.
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast
Test Debut: West Indies v Australia at Perth, 1st Test, 1984/85
Latest Test: West Indies v South Africa at Jamaica, 5th Test, 2000/01
ODI Debut: West Indies v Sri Lanka at Hobart, World Series Cup, 1984/85
Latest ODI: West Indies v New Zealand at Christchurch, 5th ODI, 1999/00
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1987
Courtney Walsh is one of crickets greatest ever players. A test career spanning over 17 years is highlighted by the fact that he was the first ever player to take 500 test wickets.
Courtney made his test debut against Australia at Perth taking 2 wickets for 43 runs. Later, that season, he also made his one day international debut against Sri Lanka. A cool head and a high action enabled Courtney Walsh to mature and rise quickly through the ranks of the finest fast bowlers in world cricket.
During the 1986 tour of Sri Lanka, Courtney took amazing 5 for 1 in a One Day International against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. Soon after this in 1987, he was named by Wisden as one of the cricketers of the year.
He continued his excellent bowling performances in 1988 taking his first test match hatrick against Australia in Brisbane.
1994 saw Courtney appointed of the West Indian test team on the resting of Richie Richardson. Courtney eventually had the honour of captaining his test team on 22 occasions.
As his career continued the records began to tumble. In 2000, he surpassed Kapil Dev’s 434 world record for the most test wickets.
At the age of 38 Courtney was to play in his last test series, fittingly in the Caribbean. During this series, Courtney reached the milestone many thought impossible – 500 test wickets. This was a true testament to his ability to constantly take wickets and to remain relatively injury free.
April 2001 saw Courtney’s career come to a close on his home Kingston ground in Jamaica. He retired from international cricket after the fifth test match against South Africa with 519 wickets.
He will be remembered as one of the games greatest competitors always giving 100% for his team.
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