Ambrose gives WI little chance
LONDON, CMC: LEGENDARY FORMER seamer Sir Curtly Ambrose has held out little hope for embattled West Indies in the three-Test series against England, starting here today.
Sir Curtly, who, until last year, served as the Caribbean side’s bowling coach, said West Indies were coming up against a very confident England side and would struggle to even win a Test.
“I am very, very concerned,” the giant Antiguan told the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show ahead of the start of the day/night first Test at Edgbaston.
“England are the favourites, they have just beaten South Africa 3-1, and South Africa are a better team than the West Indies at the moment. [England’s] confidence is sky high.
“The West Indies, on the other hand, will have to play exceptionally well, first of all to compete, let alone win a game.” He added: “Speaking from the heart as a West Indian, I’m hoping they can at least win a match or compete. But as a realist, I’m not so sure they are going to compete against England.” History is also against West Indies, having not won in a Test in England in 17 years and a series in almost three decades. In fact, the Caribbean side are without a Test series victory since beating minnows Bangladesh three years ago in the Caribbean. Further, the touring squad is a young one, with just three players – Kemar Roach, Kieran Powell and Shannon Gabriel – playing a Test in England before. Sir Curtly snatched 405 wickets in his 98Test career at an outstanding average of nearly 21, including a whopping 88 in 20 Tests in England at below his career average.