Cricket: Walsh's magic 500 sets islands alight

PORT-OF-SPAIN - Cricket-mad fans in the West Indies were still celebrating last night, hours after their hero, Courtney Walsh, captured his 500th test wicket.

The 38-year-old, playing in his 129th test, which is also a record for a specialist bowler, set the island nations alight when he reached the milestone with two wickets in three balls in South Africa's second innings of the second test.

Opener Gary Kirsten was his 499th victim when he edged a cut to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, prompting police to move into position to prevent a possible crowd invasion.

They did not have long to wait, as Jacques Kallis became wicket No 500 when he was leg-before to a ball which cut back at him to find the magical mark at an overall average of 24.67 runs a wicket.

Walsh ran down the pitch with his arms raised in triumph and was engulfed by his team-mates. It was yet another record for a player whose achievements owe as much to stamina as they do to natural ability.

Although he has not officially announced his retirement, it is accepted that the series against South Africa will be his last.

His triumph yesterday ensured the remaining three tests, in Barbados, Antigua and his home country, Jamaica, will be an extended valedictory for one of cricket's most respected men.

Walsh made 28,833 deliveries, some 1000 more than anyone else has sent down, to break into statistical territory thought for generations to be out of reach.

His double strike reduced South Africa, 56 behind on first innings, to 38 for two. But the tourists recovered well in the final session to finish the third day on 130 without further loss. Opener Hershelle Gibbs was unbeaten on 57 and Daryll Cullinan was 41 not out.

The West Indies had totalled 342, thanks to an unbeaten 93 by Jacobs. He shared a ninth-wicket stand of 71 with Mervyn Dillon.

Walsh is also notable for possessing one of the worst batting records in test cricket.

Just one hour before making history, he was run out in almost comical style for his 42nd test duck.

His wicket brought the West Indies first innings to an end and left Jacobs without a batting partner when he needed just seven runs to complete his maiden test century.

"It's been a big drain just thinking about reaching 500 from the beginning of the series," Walsh said. "I'm happy to get it out of the way.

"I'm just hoping to get through the series here. I don't think 600 is on the cards."

He said his passion for cricket had kept him going long past the age at which most other paceman retire.

"It's the love I have for the game. It's something I really enjoy doing." A ceremony was held in the pavilion immediately after stumps to commemorate Walsh's achievement.

When Walsh played in his first test match in November 1984 he was a gangly 22-year-old who backed up the great fast bowling trio of the late Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Michael Holding.

He did not even get to bowl in his first test innings, as Australia were shot out for 76 on a bouncy pitch in Perth.

He got a turn in the second innings, though, when Graeme Wood was caught in the slips by Richie Richardson, the first of a who's who of international batsmen who have fallen victim to one of the most skilful practitioners of line-and-length bowling the game has known.

Early in his career, Walsh was a workhorse, the man who bowled into the wind and kept the batsmen quiet while the strike bowlers attacked.

But when the production line of West Indian fast bowlers dried up, Walsh became a kingpin.

Throughout the 1990s, it was Walsh and recently-retired Curtly Ambrose who carried the attack for their side.

Walsh has never been an express bowler like Marshall or Holding, but his height and an easy, rhythmical action enable him to generate steep bounce.

It took him 80 matches to reach 300 wickets, in England in 1995, making him the 10th man to join the "300 club."

Then he became the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies, overtaking Marshall's record of 376, during the first test against South Africa in 1998/99.

His next target was Kapil Dev's world mark of 434, and he achieved it in his 114th test a year ago, amid emotional scenes in Kingston, Jamaica, when Henry Olonga, Zimbabwe's last batsman, was caught at short leg.

Walsh has taken five wickets in an innings 21 times and 10 wickets in a match three times.

New honours seem certain for a man who has received the Order of Jamaica, been given land by Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson, and who travels on a diplomatic passport with the official designation of ambassador at large.

Walsh's feat may be surpassed, but it is unlikely to be done by a quick bowler.

Among the many tributes yesterday was one from New Zealand's greatest cricketer, Sir Richard Hadlee, who said Walsh's effort was "a testament to his durability, fitness, longevity in the game and his mental state."

Hadlee had held the world record with 431 scalps in 86 tests before being overtaken by Kapil Dev.

"When he went beyond Kapil Dev's record he made it clear he was going to try to hang on in there, and with the state of West Indian cricket over the past few years it's important he has."

Hadlee, who was the quickest to reach the 400-wicket milestone, said it was hard to pinpoint when Walsh was at his best.

"It's difficult to say, but in the early to mid-90s he was going pretty well. He struggled out here a year ago, but picked himself up again and got a new lease of life in England eight months ago. It's just good to see."

Walsh took only three wickets at 75.33 as the West Indies lost the test series to New Zealand 0-2, but bounced back against England, taking 34 scalps at 12.82.

- AGENCIES