Courtney Walsh enjoys the benefits of retirement
He stands elegantly in the lounge of the MCC Club in Kingston where, once upon a time, his mother worked as a cook to earn her living
Special Correspondent
22-May-2002
He stands elegantly in the lounge of the MCC Club in Kingston where, once upon a time, his mother worked as a cook to earn her living. He owes much to the club; the officials sent little Courtney Walsh to school at the expense of the club.
Walsh is not so little any more, physically or figuratively. The gangly fast-bowler became the most prolific wicket-taker in Test history, but he shows no regret as Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne have his mark of 519 wickets firmly in their cross-hairs. By his own admission, Walsh is "a satisfied ex-cricketer" with no intention of involving himself in the sport for the moment.
Instead, Walsh runs Courtney Walsh Sports - a shop adjacent to the MCC Club building - and enjoys life in his spare time. "For 17 long years, I played continuously," he says. "Now my body and mind deserve rest, and I am eager to provide them with it."
To get from 400 Test wickets to 434 took you some time. But once you got past 434, it seems like you just zipped to 519.
Yes, that happens sometimes. No matter how hard you try, you may not get wickets. But after that (the 434-wicket mark), luck was probably on my side.
Now that you hold the record at 519 wickets, have you ever thought that it may not stay in your name for long?
I did not think of it that way. When I left the international arena, I was the highest wicket-taker in the world, and I left cricket with my head held high. I was satisfied.
Your partner with the new ball, Curtly Ambrose, is now playing guitar, and your skipper Richie Richardson is running a pub. Do you have any plans to do such things?
At the moment, no. I am too tired. I need rest, and I have not thought about what to do in future. It can wait a bit. When I am fresh, I'll consider different options and decide what I'll be doing.
If the West Indies Cricket Board offers you the post of the coach of the national team, will you accept it?
Again, at the moment, there is no such possibility. I'll do everything, but only after resting myself to the content of my heart as well as my body. I had had no hurry to do anything in my life even when I was playing, and I have no such hurry now.
People are saying that the West Indies are slowly returning to a team of some strength. What do you think, as a former skipper of the team?
At least they are playing better in this series. Each of them is playing with motivation, and that is evident from their performances in the ongoing series. That augurs well for the future.
The West Indian on the road thinks you and Ambrose could have given two more years, which would have let the new crop of bowlers adjust to the pressures of international cricket. The current bowling would be better, and you could have increased your tally too.
I think I retired at the right moment, and I have no regrets. My body was not permitting it any more. I played for the country, led the country, and enjoyed my cricket fully in those 17 long years. But during those last days, I was not enjoying it as much as I used to. I am thankful to the Almighty that he has given my body the power to resist the toil of bowling relentlessly for 17 years. Believe me, I am really enjoying every moment of rest now, being far away from cricket and living the cool and composed life of a retired person.