Ambrose, Davidson and Belinda Clark to be inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame today

London, Sep 12 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) today announced that former West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, former Australian fast bowlers Frederick Spofforth and Alan Davidson and former female Australian batsman Belinda Clark will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Ambrose, Davidson and Clark will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame this evening at the ICC Awards, which will be held in London, by FICA President Jimmy Adams and ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Clive Lloyd.
Spofforth will be inducted later next year in a ceremony involving the former fast bowler's family.
The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame is a joint venture with FICA set up in 2009, the ICC's Centenary year.
Ambrose was the most lethal pace bowler of his generation, taking 405 Test wickets at 20.99.
Two of his most noticeable performances came against England and Australia - he took 6-24 to help hustle England out for 46 in Trinidad in 1993 while he took a series- clinching seven wickets for 25 runs, including nine maiden overs, against Australia at the WACA in the previous season.
"Well for me personally it is a privilege and an honour to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. In the history of cricket there have been many great cricketers and to be part of that elite group, am very happy and am very humbled," said Ambrose, who featured in 176 ODIs claiming 225 wickets at an average of 24.12.
The Antigua born fast bowler believes the induction into the Hall Of Fame is a reward for all the hard work he has out in over the years.
"I never thought that this day would come. This only tells me that all the hard work I put in throughout my career, did not go unnoticed. I see this also as a just reward for all the joy and happiness that I may have brought to cricket and cricketers alike," Ambrose said.

Continue Reading... Tags: Alan Davidson, Cricket, Curtly Ambrose, London, United Kingdom

ICC inducts former Windies great Curtly Ambrose into Hall of Fame

London, Sep. 13 :The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Federation of International Cricketers'' Associations (FICA) on Monday inducted former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose into the Hall of Fame in London.
The former West Indies fast bowler was inducted along with other Australian fast bowlers Frederick Spofforth and Alan Davidson and former batsman of the Australian Women''s cricket team Belinda Clark.
"This award means a lot to me. I have toiled longer enough for 12 and half years representing the West Indies and this award is just like the icing on the cake. It simply tells me that all my hard work and my dedication to cricket didn''t go unnoticed and I''m very very happy to be inducted into the ICC hall of fame among a group of elite players," said Ambrose.
It was in 2009 that the ICC launched the Hall of Fame in association with the FICA.
Batsmen used to dread facing Ambrose as he was one of the most lethal pace bowler, who had taken 405 Test wickets at an average of 20.99.
Ambrose expressed his disappointment over the current state of cricket in West Indies.
"It hurts me to say this, but it''s a fact, I''m a realist, that it is going to take a lot more years for West Indies Cricket to get anywhere near they once were. I believe that the Cricket Board in the West Indies made some mistakes. This is my opinion. I believe that when we were the best team in the world, nothing was ever done, nothing was put in place to nurture the talent that we have coming up. I believe our cricket board and the authorities believe that we could forever produce great cricketers," said the fast bowler.
Ambrose was all praise for Indian batsman and one of the world''s greatest cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar.
"My first thought was he (Sachin Tendulkar) should be in school, not on a cricket pitch really. So, I''m not really surprised that he has achieved so much in cricket. He''s a wonderful cricketer, very humble in my opinion, hardly ever shows any emotions until recently when he walked off. I''m very happy for him and he deserves all that he''s achieved in cricket," added Ambrose.
Ambrose recalled two of his most memorable performances, one was against England and the other one was against Australia. In the match against England, Ambrose scalped six wickets by merely giving twenty-four runs. The match against England was played at Trinindad in 1993.
In the match against Australia, Ambrose guided his team to win the series as he took seven wickets for merely 25 runs. The match was played at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) in the earlier season.
The West Indian fast bowler played in 176 One Day Internationals and took 225 wickets at an average of 24.12.
The Antigua born fast bowler expressed his happiness for being inducted in the Hall of Fame as he believed that his hard work was given due recognition.
Some of the other players who had made their way to the Hall of Fame earlier included Bishan Bedi, Allan Border, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Vivian Richards, Steve Waugh and Wasim Akram.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Curtly Ambrose, London, United Kingdom