Profile: Courtney Walsh

Courtney Walsh bowled more balls in Test cricket than any other fast bowler in history.

As a school boy Walsh took 10 wickets in an innings in 1979, and made his first class debut in 1982. For nearly 20 years he was the mainstay of both Jamaica and Gloucestershire’s attack, taking 1,807 wickets, including 104 five-wicket hauls.

Walsh made his Test debut against Australia in 1984 as part of a West Indian fast-bowling unit so strong he did not even get a bowl in the first innings: Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner destroyed Australia for just 76. In the second innings Walsh took 2-43. Another highlight against Australia came four years later when he took a hat-trick spanning two innings, the 18th in Tests.

When Walsh did take the new ball he formed one of the most potent opening partnerships in history with Curtly Ambrose: in the 49 Tests they opened the bowling together they took 421 wickets.

In 2000 Walsh broke Kapil Dev’s record for most Test wickets when he took his 435th wicket, that of Henry Olonga, at his home ground of Sabina Park. Walsh improved his tally to 519 at an average of just over 24 before retiring, again at his home ground, in 2001. Walsh held the world record until Muttiah Muralitharan broke it in 2004. He also captained his country for 22 Tests.

In One Day Internationals, Walsh took 227 wickets, including a best of 5-1 against Sri Lanka in 1986.

Walsh currently serves on the West Indies Cricket Board cricket committee alongside other former players Andy Roberts, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bishop and commentates on cricket.