4.4 – 3 – 1 – 5. Well, that’s shorthand for the havoc wreaked by Courtney Walsh on Sri Lanka, in the 1986 Champions Trophy in Sharjah. He was an underrated gentle giant, who could bowl fast, over after over. No wonder, his club-mates at Gloucestershire called him Duracell. The action was reminiscent of Mr. Whispering Death himself. That cool, gazelle-like run-up reminded you of David Ogilvy’s classic headline for Rolls Royce – At 60 mph, the loudest noise in this new Rolls Royce comes from the electric clock! Just replace ‘electric clock’ with ‘deep breath of sighing fans’ and you’ll understand what I mean. His gentlemanly demeanour seemed more suited to Saville Row than Lord’s, you may think. Perhaps, true. He was a classicist at heart, who could mesmerize batsmen with variation, pace, acumen and unwavering length. The slow yorker, which he mastered towards the end of his career, was a joy to watch. Delivered from 11 feet high, the ball torpedoed into the batsman’s crease, often uprooting his wicket. We live in an era where brashness and bravado are celebrated in cricket. Courtney Walsh is a rare reminder that calmness and control could work wonders as well.
