LAW’S BLAST FOR CURTLY
Windies coach furious at legend’s jibes
WEsT inDiEs aimed their guns at one of their legends yesterday when stuart law launched a stinging attack on sir Curtly ambrose’s passionate criticism of their Edgbaston capitulation.
ambrose, one of the greatest fast bowlers of all, spoke for a proud cricketing region after West indies’ three-day first Test defeat when he exclusively told
Sportsmail of his embarrassment at a ‘pathetic’ performance.
But West indies coach law hit back ahead of tomorrow’s second investec Test at Headingley.
‘not so long ago Curtly was the bowling coach of this team, so for him to make those criticisms is disappointing,’ said the australian.
‘it would have been nicer if he had come into the dressing room to talk to the guys and express his displeasure to us. That would have been awesome, but that didn’t happen.’
now law has the unenviable task of trying to make the West indies competitive in the last two Tests with a callow side missing many of its Twenty20 stars.
‘a lot of the guys have been asked to look in the mirror by our captain (Jason Holder) and we have been very honest in our assessments,’ said law. ‘We are giving them every ounce of support because these guys do have a lot of talent. They just need experience and once they get it they’ll be pretty good.’
This series was expected to be one-sided but what so many West indies greats found hard to accept was the poor body language and lack of professionalism during three chastening days for Caribbean cricket. ‘The players went from 40 degrees in Barbados to 13 in Birmingham and if i was them i would have been walking around with my hands in my pockets freezing my nuts off, too,’ insisted former lancashire and Essex batsman law. ‘Fielding at night time in England is not pleasurable and when it is overcast with mizzly rain it is even worse. it is not an excuse. it’s a fact.’
Tom Westley, meanwhile, has revealed how the emotions of trying to establish himself at no 3 for England ahead of the ashes have affected his family and even reduced his mother Margaret to tears. ‘i spoke to my mum about hopefully getting selected for the lord’s Test and she just started crying,’ said Westley. ‘Growing up, that’s what she dreamt of for me, playing for England at lord’s. i can’t even bring up the ashes to her. That would times it by 10!’
not that Westley’s three Tests so far have led to greater recognition among the public. ‘i’m still waiting,’ said Westley, smiling. ‘at Edgbaston i was with alastair Cook when a guy asked for a selfie. His friend pointed to me and said, “Do you want him in it?” and the guy was like, “no, he’s only his mate”.’
Westley, 28, has made a good impression on England with his temperament but has made only one half-century in three Tests.
‘i’m not going to change my game because i’m playing Test cricket,’ he said. ‘it’s my role to score hundreds and i’m confident in my ability. it’s worked for me for years at Essex and hopefully i can implement it at Test level.’
Embarrassing and pathetic, they just threw in the towel Curtly’s strong views in Monday’s Sportsmail