Watch: Curtly Ambrose bowls the slowest ball of his career

Speed and accuracy is what defined the great West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose. Known to make life difficult for batsmen with impeccable line and length, the Antigua-born Ambrose was the most lethal bowler of his generation. The fast bowler, who stands at 6ft 7ins, released the ball from almost 10ft high which helped generating bounce even on docile tracks. He has many famous battles against Australia and on one occasion decided to replace his speed with something that is never associated with him-slowness.

In the first final of the Benson & Hedges World Series against Australia, the Windies had to defend a score of 239. Ambrose, who was at the peak of his powers, had dismissed both the Australian openers, Mark Taylor and David Boon, after they had given their team a solid start. Coming into his final spell he was up against a well set Ian Healy who was batting on 33 off 30. Although the match was beyond the reach of the Aussies, Ambrose was determined to take a 5 wicket haul and bowled a brilliant slower ball which completely took Healy by surprise. In trying to slog over midwicket, he missed the ball which went on to rattle the stumps.

There was a huge smile on Curtly’s face as he thoroughly enjoyed the wicket. Even Healy couldn’t stop himself from laughing the moment he finished the shot and heard the dreaded sound of the timber. The great fast bowler kept enjoying the wicket and explained to a trajectory of the delivery to wicketkeeper Junior Murray. Even as the other fielders rushed to the center, the two kept having fun while chatting with each other. Ambrose finished with figures of 5/32 as and helped his team win the match by 25 runs. He again proved Australia’s nemesis by picking up 3 wickets in the second final that helped the West Indies lift the trophy.

Watch: Curtly Ambrose bowls the slowest ball of his career