He was one of the best fast bowlers of his time. Over 6’ 7” and running in to deliver thunderbolts from a height of over 9 feet, Sir Curtly Ambrose was one of the most difficult bowlers to encounter for any batter. Now a commentator and coach, Ambrose spoke to Boria Majumdar about the upcoming World Cup, and how much the return of Jasprit Bumrah could help the Indian team.
Excerpts:
Boria: Jasprit Bumrah is fit. He looked really good in Ireland. As a fast bowler yourself, could you tell me how you see him and how should he approach his return? Clearly, there is a lot of interest and expectation from Indian fans.
Ambrose: Jasprit Bumrah is a fine bowler, and as he returns to the Indian team, it will add a lot of depth and variety to the Indian attack. And his presence in the World Cup will make India favourites. He will bowl at the death and that’s what you need. Having said that, a comeback is never easy. Jasprit should go a little slow in the early stages. My advice to him would be to go gradually. If he starts to bowl full steam in every match, it isn’t the best way to go about it. He should give himself time to get back to full pace, and take it a little slow on his return. That’s how he can get back to his best. However much he bowls in training, match situations are different. In matches, he shouldn’t rush himself to bowl like he used to. Once he has a few matches under his belt, he can do what he used to do before the injury.
Boria: How important do you think he is?
Ambrose: He makes you the favourites in the World Cup. He will bowl in every situation whenever his team needs him. He is the equivalent of Virat Kohli in the Indian bowling unit.
Boria: You have seen Virat bat in the West Indies. He had a good IPL and is now looking hungry and strong again. Your thoughts on Kohli?
Ambrose: I have seen Virat for several years now, and I don’t need to tell you that he is a great player. And like every great player in history, he went through a lean period. But that does not mean he is finished or that he is over the hill, or he is not the same player of old. He looked hungry to me, looked disciplined and fit. These are all important signs to observe. I think Virat can make a telling difference for India in the World Cup at home. He has all the talent and hunger to do so.
Boria: Your thoughts on India-Pakistan?
Ambrose: It is one of the best cricket games you can watch as a fan. Two very good sides with very good fast bowlers. As a fast bowler, I can’t emphasise the importance of fast bowlers more. Both these teams have many in their ranks. And with Bumrah back, India has got their strength back. It should be a fantastic clash for the fans to watch. And in India, every seat will be full, which will make it a real spectacle.
I like Rohit Sharma’s style of captaincy, impressed with his calm demeanor: Sir Curtly Ambrose on BWB
Sir Curtly Ambrose, legendary West Indian fast bowler features in this special Asia Cup and World Cup series on Backstage with Boria. In this candid chat, Ambrose shares his… pic.twitter.com/mu6e3psnXu
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) August 27, 2023
Boria: Finally, now that you have seen this Indian side, do you reckon they can break the ICC trophy jinx on home soil in the World Cup?
Ambrose: You surely have a chance. But there are other good teams as well. Australia, England and Pakistan are some of them. The question is how well Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid handle pressure. At home, there will be pressure for India. There will be huge crowds in the stadiums. The media will be following every story. There will be a huge build-up to the event. How well you handle the pressure could define your campaign. If you handle it well and seek the positives out of it, there is reason to believe India will do well in the World Cup. Rohit Sharma is a good captain and we have seen that over the years, so there is every reason for you to be hopeful. It will not be easy, however. Winning a World Cup can never be easy, and India will need to play their best to do so.