Editing Curtly Ambrose (section)

==Style and technique==
Mike Selvey wrote in ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 1991 that Ambrose had "the sort of easy, repetitive, no-sweat action which is the key to unyielding accuracy. There is no respite and all his other qualities are byproducts."<ref name=Selvey91/> At his peak, Ambrose did not rely on pronounced [[Swing bowling|swing]] or [[Seam bowling|seam movement]] of the ball. Instead, he repeatedly bowled into the same areas of the pitch and the height from which he delivered the ball made him extremely difficult to face. The ball bounced sharply after pitching, sometimes deviating slightly from a straight line after pitching on the seam, and frequently took the edge of the batsman's bat to be caught behind the [[wicket]].<ref name=Selvey2000>{{Cite news | last = Selvey |first = Mike |title = Two-metre terminators final act: Mike Selvey salutes the demolition man, Curtly Ambrose | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 26 | date = 30 August 2000}}</ref> His 1992 citation as ''Wisden'' Cricketer of the Year states that he had "outright pace and he generates a disconcerting, steepling bounce from fuller-length deliveries&nbsp;... His height and a slender, sinewy wrist contribute greatly to the final velocity [of the ball], the wrist snapping forward at the instant of release to impart extra thrust".<ref name=coy/> Writing in 2001 following Ambrose's retirement, Michael Atherton, whom Ambrose dismissed more often than any other batsman, said: "At his best, there is no doubt that [Ambrose] moved beyond the fine line that separates the great from the very good. Quality bowlers essentially need two of three things: pace, movement and accuracy. Ambrose had all three."<ref>Atherton, pp. 29–31.</ref>

Ambrose's height, and the accuracy with which he bowled, made it difficult for batsmen to [[Batting (cricket)#Forward and back|play forward to the ball]]; instead they were forced to play with their weight going back. His accuracy meant that he was effective if the pitch favoured batsmen.<ref name=Selvey91>{{Cite news | last = Selvey |first = Mike |title = Rocking and rumbling with long tall Curtly: Height is not the only quality which sets Ambrose apart | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 15 | date = 24 July 1991}}</ref> He bowled an effective yorker,<ref name=coy/> and unlike other fast bowlers, used short-pitched deliveries sparingly,<ref name=Marks91>{{Cite news | last = Marks |first = Vic |title = The joyful destroyer | newspaper = The Observer  | location = London  | page = 39 | date = 14 July 1991}}</ref> although he could bowl a hostile bouncer,<ref name=coy/> and concentrated on bowling a full-length aimed at the wickets.<ref name=Marks91/> Ambrose rarely engaged in verbal sparring with batsmen, although in later years he occasionally inspected the pitch in an area close to the batsman before an innings began and rubbed his hands to suggest that he would enjoy bowling there.<ref name="Atherton, p. 31"/> He always aimed to concede as few runs as possible when bowling, and frequently berated himself when he offered an easy delivery from which to score.<ref name=coy/><ref name="Atherton, p. 31">Atherton, p. 31.</ref> Following his dismissal of a batsman, Ambrose often celebrated by pumping the air with his fists.<ref name=Marks91/><ref name="Atherton, p. 31"/> With Courtney Walsh, Ambrose developed a reputation for performing at his best when his team seemed likely to lose,<ref name="Atherton, p. 31"/> and he often took wickets in clusters which devastated the opposition.<ref name=Selvey2000/> In addition, he was often most effective against the leading batsmen on a team; he was also capable of exploiting vulnerabilities in the techniques of other batsmen.<ref name=Bagchi>{{cite news| last = Bagchi | first = Rob | title= How Curtly Ambrose, West Indies' silent assassin, became a big noise |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/sep/13/curtly-ambrose-hall-of-fame |newspaper = The Guardian| location = London| date = 13 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref>

As of 2024, Ambrose's 405 Test wickets place him 17th on the list of leading Test wicket-takers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Test matches: Bowling records: Most wickets in career|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/93276.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> Of those who have taken over 200 Test wickets, Ambrose has the third best bowling average behind Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner,<ref name=Selvey2000/><ref>{{cite web|title=Statsguru: Test matches: Bowling records |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=bowling_average;qualmin1=200;qualval1=wickets;template=results;type=bowling |work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> and has the eighth best economy rate; he rises to third if only those who have taken over 250 wickets are included.<ref name=Selvey2000/><ref>{{cite web|title=Statsguru: Test matches: Bowling records |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=economy_rate;qualmin1=200;qualval1=wickets;template=results;type=bowling| work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> For much of his career, Ambrose was rated the world's best bowler in the [[ICC player rankings]], first reaching the top in 1991; he rarely dropped below second and was ranked in the top 10 from 1989 until the end of his career.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reliance ICC Test Championship Bowling Rankings&nbsp;— Curtly Ambrose|url=http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/playerdisplay/test/bowling/?id=1708&graph=ranking|publisher=International Cricket Council/Reliance|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> His highest rating of 912 in the rankings, which he achieved in 1994, is the equal sixth best rating of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reliance ICC Best-Ever Test Championship Rating|url=http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/alltime/test/bowling/|publisher=International Cricket Council/Reliance|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> In 2010, Ambrose was chosen by a panel of writers and experts as a member of [[ESPNcricinfo]]'s "All-Time XI" for West Indies.<ref>{{cite web|last=Becca|first=Tony|title=The Invincibles|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/468845.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> The following year, he was inducted into the [[International Cricket Council]] Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambrose makes it into ICC Hall of Fame|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/532173.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> During his playing days, Ambrose had a reputation for reticence,<ref name=coy/> and rarely spoke to journalists or the opposition.<ref name="Atherton, p. 29"/> His response to a request for an interview in 1991—"Curtly talks to no-one"—{{#tag:ref|A journalist had asked Viv Richards about Ambrose, who was walking past. Interrupting the conversation, Ambrose said "If you want to know about Curtly, you ask Curtly". When the journalist complied, Ambrose responded "Curtly talks to no-one".<ref name="no-one"/>|group=note}}<ref name="no-one">{{Cite news | last = Selvey |first = Mike |title = Ambrose so silent, Gooch so golden | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 16 | date = 27 September 1991}}</ref> became associated with him throughout his career,<ref name="Atherton, p. 29"/> but he was more willing to talk to journalists after he retired.<ref name=Bagchi/>