"Ooh, I think he's lovely" said the lady.
Now, I assumed that she meant Mike Atherton. Just the sort of lad a lady would be proud to have as her grandson, I thought
"That Courtney Walsh, I think he's lovely" she continued.
I agreed with her, then we went outside and had a good clean fight with our handbags. I won, because I am only two years older than Courtney, therefore a more suitable age for him, and my handbag was heavier!
Next ball is quite beautifully dispatched effortlessly to the boundary by Courtney
"That was a beautiful shot Courtney, I'm speechless" said Geoffrey
Now I don't know if this is a first, rendering Boycs speechless, but I wonder what would happen if Courtney were ever to get a century and Boycs was there to see it....
During one of the tests in the Long Hot Summer of 1995, Dominic Cork bowled a bouncer at CW. As Cork turned to walk back to his mark, he was completely unaware of Courtney stalking down the pitch behind him, almost to the non-strikers end, and giving the spot where the ball had pitched a suspicious look, and a very firm prod. May not sound funny in writing, but it was to watch
During the Oval Test of 1995, the England score was on 222, and David Sheppard was as usual highly agitated, standing on one leg, hopping around. There behind him was one Courtney shadowing his every move
On another occasion in the Test series of 95, the camera showed a West Indian fielder sheltering under someones very large cricket unmbrella. Needless to say when the fielder peered out from under it, it was CW
Noe of these sound all that funny in writing- but when happening live and accompanied by the wonderful range of expressions that pass across Courtney's animated face, they were.
Courtney loves cars, and one season at Gloucestershire, they got him a really big, smart car. However, he decided that one of the players had an even bigger car. So Courtney drove onto the ground at Bristol, with the sunroof of his car open, and his head sticking out of the top
But of course the funniest thing of all about Courtney is watching him bat!His arms and legs seem to go all over the place, and his leave alone needs to be seen to be believed. But don't refine your batting Courtney, it is a joy to behold as it is
Batting in West Indies 1st Innings (at No 10), Courtney got a bit fed up with the "bowling into the rough outside leg stump" line. So he turned round, and took up stance perfectly, left handed. Sadly when it came to actually facing the ball, he had resumed his normal right handed stance.
Then, when he started bowling, he discovered a perfect piece of rough to bowl into himself, good length, make the batsman play at everything. He bent down and gave it close scrutiny, then started rubbing his hands in glee. The batsmen got a very mischevious look as Courtney walked past.
And of course, when a dog strayed onto the pitch on the 4th day, who did it make a bee-line for? Courtney of course. Treated to much exaggerated arm and hat waving. The dog was on the field for a while, leaving a "calling card" near Curtly Ambrose's fielding position. It was eventually rounded up, and a man with a shovel was sent out to do "pooper scooper" duties.
In the match against England on 10th Oct 1987, England needed 13 runs off the last over, which CW bowled. Unfortunateley for him England got the runs and won the game. Courtney was so overcome with emotion, having lost the game for his team, that he exited in tears, and had to be comforted in the dressing room by Viv Richards.
On 17th Oct 1987, West Indies played Pakistan, and again Courtney bowled the last over. With one run and one wicket needed to decide the game, and with one ball left, tension must have been at fever pitch. As Courtney ran in to deliver the final ball, he noticed that Saleem Jaffer was backing up so far at the non-strikers end, that he was out of his crease. Courtney could have run him out, thus winning the game for West Indies. But instead, he pulled up in his delivery stride, and warned the batsman. He then started all over again with the last delivery, off which Abdul Quadir scored two to win the game for Pakistan. Courtney's West Indies team mates, and West Indian supporters in general were disbelieving, but Courtney was presented with a handwoven carpet as a gesture of thanks for his sporting behaviour. (Pundits at the time suggested maybe he should try to fly home on it!)
Thanks to Arvind for suggesting I include these on this page
But, you will be thinking, Courtney has never made a score as high as 88. Well, bowlers can join if they get an 8fer, and CW did just that to become a member in about 92/93. If he sees that the score in a match is on 87, and he is on strike, he will take a single even if there is a 4 to be hit, to see the score get to 88.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Courtney was able to get an 88 in 98, which could be his last season with Gloucestershire.
Thanks to Mike Holmans for suggesting this addition.
1984. Leading wicket taker in Shell Shield with 30 wickets
1984. Took first test wicket at Perth 9-12 Nov. G.wood,c Richardson for 56
1986. Highest wicket taker again in Shell Shield with 20 wickets.
1987. One of "West Indies Cricket Annual" cricketers of the year.
1987. Also one of "Wisdens" Cricketers of the Year.
1991. Appointed Captain of Jamaica
1992. Captained "West Indies A" in series against "England A"
1992. Courtney was leading wicket taker in the County Championship in England with 92 wickets. He also topped the averages at 15.96 per wicket.
1994. Appointed Captain of West Indies for India and New Zealand tours whilst Richie Richardson unwell One of the first things he did was insist the the West Indies badge be put on the left of the players shirts, over their hearts, instead of on the right where it had laways been
1995. Took 250th Test wicket during the 2nd Test 10-13 Feb at Wellington during the West Indies tour of New Zealand
1995. Cricket field at Courtney's old school, Excelsior High School in Kingston, Jamaica renamed "The Courtney Walsh Oval" as a tribute to him
1996. Appointed Captain of West Indies in his own right
1997. As sad one this. For the first time in his long career, Courtney has been forced to miss the Third Test against India in Barbados, 27 Mar-1st April, through injury (re-occurence of hamstring injury sustained in Australia)
1997. (June) Courtney overtook Danny Morrison to become the leading accumulator of Test ducks.
1997. (Dec) Courtney took his 350th Test wicket in the 3rd Test of the series against Pakistan.
1998. Another sad one, as Courtney lost the West Indies captaincy to Brian Lara. However, he will continue his Test Career and is now within sight of two records. Being the first West Indies bowler to 100 test caps,he currently has 96. And overtaking Malcolm Marshall to become West Indies leading wicket taker- he needs 23 more wickets.
1998. Courtney became the first West Indies bowler to 100 Test caps. His 100th came in the 4th Test of the 1998 England/West Indies series, 27 Feb in Guyana. He was presented with a Silver Plate to commemorate this fine achievement. He also now has 100 Test wickets against England.
April 1998. Courtney chooses to withdraw from the West Indies squad after the 2nd One Day International, citing tiredness, preparation for the coming County season, and making room for younger players as the reasons. Prompts speculation that it is the start of him thinking about retirement.
May 1998. Courtney is named International Sports Personality of the year for 1997 by the Variety Club of Great Britain.
June 1998. Courtney now has 800 wickets, and 2,500 runs for Gloucestershire. Both records were passed on 19th June during the match against Worcesershire at Worcester- and I happened to be there although I didn't hear about the records until afterwards!
July 3rd 1998. Courtney is one of 25 sports personalities honoured by Caricom in the West Indies. The 25 have been named as outstanding Caribbean Community Sports Personalities
Sept 1998, Courtney is leading wicket taker in the County Championship with 106 wickets at 17.31.
Nov 1998. Courtney named the Jamaica Cricket Associations Cricketer of the Year. As he was in South Africa, his mum, Joan Wollaston, collected the award for him at a ceremony at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Wed 18th Nov.
5th March 1999. Courtney reaches the milestone of 400 Test wickets, only the third bowler ever to achieve this. Only Sir Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev are in front of him now.
11th March 1999. Courtney was given the keys to the City of Kingston, which makes him the equivalent of a Freeman of the City. Hope he doesn't lose them- better get yourself one of those keyrings that responds when you whistle, Courtney!
Aug 1999. Courtney awarded the Order of Jamaica, the third highest award in Jamaica in the Independance Day Honours list.
The caption underneath says:-
"Ambassador the Honourable Courtney Andrew Walsh, OJ. Leading wicket taker
in Test Cricket History, 435 wickets on 27 March 2000 at Sabina Park,
Kingston, Jamaica".
Flavia-Bet you're glad you haven't got to send me a copy ;)
This page will be added to from time to time as new anecdotes or funny stories arise or are related. If you have any funny stories, mail them to me and I'll add them.
Last updated 15th dec 2000.