Editing Curtly Ambrose (section)

===More success against England===
[[File:Queens Park Oval Trinidad.jpg|thumb|Ambrose took six for 24 to bowl England out for 46 at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad.]]
When he returned to the West Indies, Ambrose took 19 first-class wickets for the Leeward Islands at an average of 11.68,<ref>{{Cite book| last = Cozier | first = Tony | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Cricket in the West Indies, 1993–94| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 1,217}}</ref> in his first appearances for the islands in two years,<ref name=figures/> but as England arrived to tour West Indies, he complained of fatigue and there were rumours he planned to retire.<ref name=Allott>{{Cite news | last = Allott |first = Paul |title = The murderous scowl that means Ambrose is a happy man | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 23 | date = 31 March 1994}}</ref> He played in three times in the five-match ODI series, taking two wickets, and took a further two wickets in the first Test, which West Indies won.<ref name=ODI/><ref name=1T94>Lee (1995), pp. 995–1,001.</ref> In ''Wisden'', Alan Lee described his performances at this time as "lethargic",<ref>Lee (1995), p. 1,002.</ref> and in the ''Guardian'', Paul Allott wrote that he bowled "like a shadow" owing to the effects of continuous cricket.<ref name=Allott/> Ambrose was ineffective at the start of the second Test, but recovered,<ref name=Allott/> ending the match with eight wickets;<ref name=figures/> according to Lee, he "struck the critical blows of the match" in the first innings.<ref name=1T94/> In the third Test, played in Trinidad, he took five for 60 in England's first innings, but after the visiting team built a substantial lead, West Indies were bowled out to leave England needing 194 to win and an hour to bat on the fourth evening. Ambrose took six wickets to leave England 40 for eight at the close of play; the next morning, they were bowled out for 46 and Ambrose had figures of six for 24 in the innings and match figures of 11 for 84;<ref name=3T94>Lee (1995), pp. 1,005–06.</ref> he was named man of the match. Lee described the collapse as "staggering", and judged Ambrose bowling to be "of the highest calibre". He continued: "He delivered one of the most devastating spells of even his career."<ref name=3T94/> Allott called it "the definitive spell of fast bowling".<ref name=Allott/>

Ambrose took four wickets in the fourth Test, but West Indies lost the match, their first defeat in Barbados for 59 years, and Ambrose was fined £1,000 by the [[match referee]] for knocking down his stumps in frustration when he was the last man out.<ref>Lee (1995), p. 1,009.</ref> He took one more wicket in the drawn final Test to finish the series with 26 wickets and top the West Indian bowling averages.<ref name=figures/><ref>Lee (1995), p. 992.</ref> Writing in ''Wisden'', Lee summarised Ambrose's performances: "Ambrose was magnificent. He was deservedly named man of the series, not only for taking 26 wickets at an average of 19.96 apiece and winning the Trinidad Test single-handed, but for the more profound truth that West Indies now look to him whenever they need wickets&nbsp;... [He] carried the attack alone".<ref>Lee (1995), p. 990.</ref>

Ambrose returned to play for Northamptonshire in 1994, but arrived later than scheduled. Claiming to need a rest,<ref name=Hopps>{{Cite news | last = Hopps |first = David |title = Northants must manage without Ambrose while he takes a rest | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 23 | date = 26 April 1994}}</ref> he missed his scheduled flight and arrived four days late.<ref name=Radd94>{{Cite book | last = Radd | first = Andrew| title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Northamptonshire in 1994| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 553}}</ref> His absence may have contributed to Northamptonshire's elimination in the preliminary stages of the [[Benson and Hedges Cup]].<ref>{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack| year = 1995 | editor-last=Engel | editor-first=Matthew| publisher = John Wisden & Co| chapter = Benson and Hedges Cup in 1994| location = London| isbn = 0-947766-24-3| page = 701}}</ref> At the time, members of the county were unhappy with Ambrose's performances for the team;<ref name=Hopps/> the committee fined him, and he expressed contrition.<ref>{{Cite news  |title = Northants to fine Ambrose | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London  | page = 21 | date = 27 April 1994}}</ref> During the remainder of the season, he bowled extremely effectively to take 77 first-class wickets, the most for the club in 18 years, at an average of 14.45 to top the national bowling averages. According to Andrew Radd in ''Wisden'', the club were mollified by his success, but he wrote: "Rarely in Northamptonshire's history have the performances and the personality of one cricketer dominated a season to the extent that Curtly Ambrose did in 1994."<ref name=Radd94/> Ambrose missed the final match of the season with a shoulder problem.<ref name=Radd94/>