Courtney Walsh, legendary fast bowler who retired from the game of cricket in April 2001 at age 38 after achieving a world record of 519 test wickets, is even busier today than when he was full-time in the game.Courtney Walsh
Still a very busy man
LAST TUESDAY when Courtney Walsh met with Outlook for a chat, he appeared a bit exhausted. He had already missed two business appointments. But, behind his fatigue was a relaxed elation, this having to do with the historic win of the West Indies that very morning, after this team scored 418 to escape a whitewashing by the opposing team Australia.
"The match was very good. It was good to see the guys doing so well and coming up with a fantastic victory, a historic victory."
On Monday, Walsh was in St. Lucia. He frequently is away as a part of his promotional work with Cable and Wireless Limited. On any weekend, he is as likely to be here, as he is likely to be not.
The pace is hectic, with his time divided between promotional activities and running the Courtney Walsh Sports goods store. But, he would not exchange what he does now for a full-time return to the cricket pitch.
Still committed
In 2001, when he retired, Walsh made the commitment to assist in the development of West Indies cricket as much as he was capable of doing. How does he feel about his accomplishments in this area?
"I have done whatever I have been asked to do," Walsh states, "I have worked with the Jamaica team, helped with the fast bowlers and I have worked with Cable and Wireless, with the under-15 groups. I dream that at some point in time I will be more involved with the youngsters."
But, right now, Walsh's hiatus from the game has created the space he needed to be with his own youngsters. He says he has a very close relationship with children Courtney Junior and Christalee. Christalee, aged 13, is netball mad and Courtney Junior, aged 16, most recently exhibited a renewed love for cricket. The children reside with their mothers, but also see lots of their dad.
On weekends, they may hang out together at the beach or poolside.
"Water relaxes me," says Walsh. Playing local cricket at his club is also a source of relaxation.
Not ready for marriage
The over six-foot tall, debonair and handsome Walsh says that he has no girlfriend right now and that his mother, Joan Wollaston, is the woman in his life. Despite being away so frequently and his hectic business and promotional commitments, he still manages to talk to her every day and "sometimes twice on Sundays".
According to Walsh, his philosophy in life is to be happy. Getting married right now would not necessarily add to this. Such things as marriage will happen when the time is right.
"Marriage is not something you plan," he tells Outlook.
Happiness is spending time with his family and his club, Melbourne, where his face has been seen more frequently than ever.
"I was married to cricket for 20 years," he quips. From all indications, the sportsman is still in love, though separated.
He gets a fair amount of satisfaction from watching the progress of the young West Indies team.
"We should give them time," he says. "They are young and inexperienced." As far as the fast bowling talent is concerned, Walsh says that two years ago he had stated that Jermaine Lawson was a man with potential. This bowler has so far proven him right.
Other up-and-coming bowlers, the world record holder states, are Jerome Taylor and Omari Ebanks. Also good at their game are young Marlon Samuels, and Carlton Baugh, who "is one of the youngsters that excite me". Fast bowler Corey Colleymore of Barbados is also a man to watch out for he says, as is Ramnaresh Sarwan, the current vice-captain, who Walsh says has proven him "right".
Walsh needs no prompting to chat about his cricketing favourites and continues: "I am hoping that Tino Best and Devon Powell from the bowlers point-of-view can come into the system, so we will have their strengths to fall back on when this is required."
Finally, he expresses the hope that the authorities with responsibility for West Indies cricket will organise the team's development in such a way that the team will not fall in a slump again.
"We went through a lull not long ago. I hope it does not happen again," he says.
Meanwhile, he watches the play which as they say, is that game of glorious uncertainties.
- Avia Ustanny
Walsh's long run
1979: Takes record 10-43 in Jamaican school cricket.
1982: Makes debut for Jamaica;
1984: English county debut with Gloucestershire.
1984: Makes Test debut, against Australia in first Test at Perth.
1987: One of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year for 1986.
1988: Takes hat-trick in first Test of 1988-89 series against Australia in Brisbane with last ball of first innings and first two balls of his first spell in second innings.
1994: Appointed West Indies captain for tours of India and New Zealand after Richie Richardson ordered to rest because of 'acute fatigue syndrome'.
1995: Captures his Test career best 7-37 in second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
1995: Reaches 300 Test wickets landmark during sixth and final Test against England at The Oval.
1996: Named West Indies captain after Richie Richardson resigns at end of World Cup on Indian sub-continent.
1998: Replaced as West Indies captain after they lose all three Tests on tour of Pakistan in late 1997.
1998: Becomes West Indies' leading wicket-taker in Tests when he passes Malcolm Marshall's mark of 376 wickets in first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
1999: Becomes only third bowler in Test history after Kapil Dev (434) and Sir Richard Hadlee (431) to take 400 wickets, in first Test against Australia at Port of Spain;
2000: Breaks Kapil Dev's world record for most wickets in Tests during second Test against Zimbabwe;
2001: March 19. Becomes first bowler in history to take 500 Test wickets when he traps Jacques Kallis lbw in second Test against South Africa at Port of Spain.
