Curtly Ambrose reveals what actually happened between him and Steve Waugh during 1995 Test series

Steve Waugh and Curtly Ambrose had come against each other during Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1995. The clash between the two great players was quite a legendary thing to watch. There was a heated argument between the two players.

During a recent interaction with Sky Sports podcast, Ambrose revealed what had happened between the two of them. Waugh had also admitted that he had opened up himself to an attack with the ball because of the sledge. During the third Test at Queen’s Park Oval, the West Indian pacer was held back by skipper Richie Richardson.

“In that particular game, he said something to me that I didn’t like,” Ambrose told Sky Sports podcast. “Initially I ignored it, as in the heat of the battle you can say things, but after a break, something just snapped. I asked him ‘did you say so and so to me?’ He didn’t say yes, he didn’t say no. He just said ‘I can say anything I want to say’ which to me was a yes. I decided I deserved more respect so I had a few choice words for him,” Ambrose revealed.

The ex-pacer revealed what exactly he had in mind when he took on Waugh. “I said ‘my cricket career could be over right this minute, it doesn’t make a difference to me, but your career will be over too because I’ll knock you out and you won’t be able to play any more.’ There were a few expletives in between obviously! I was upset as I deserved more respect – but it started and ended there. I have seen him a few times since and we have never spoken about it,” Ambrose said.

Curtly Ambrose was a great bowler and probably my most respected opponent: Steve Waugh

This incident was a highlighted one when Australia won their first Test series against West Indies after 18 years. Steve Waugh was the star of the show for the Australians. It could be even said that the former Australian captain had got under the skin of the West Indian pacers.

“Curtly Ambrose was a great bowler, an incredible adversary and probably my most respected opponent,” he told Sky Sports in an interview re-aired this week. “He never said anything to you, and that was worse than sledging because you didn’t know what he was thinking. Is he trying to get me out, or is he trying to physically hurt me? That’s worse than actually someone telling you what they’re going to do. He was always there on the good length, and his short ball was at your throat,” Waugh had added.

Waugh scored a magnificent double century in the fourth Test of the series which helped Aussies to win the series. The score of 200 by Waugh in Jamaica in 1995 remained his only score of 200 in Tests.