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Change Your Life! |
Walsh proclaimed King |
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News |
March 29, 2000
Kingston, Mar 28 (Agencies): West Indies Courtney Walsh admitted to being 'drained' afte becoming Test cricket's record wicket-taker of all time.
It had been a long time in coming-16 years, in fact. But Walsh Knew Monday was going to be his day to break the Test wicket-taking record.
After quickly removing both Zimbabwean openers, Trevor Gripper and Grant Flower, Walsh watched from the outfield as his pace colleagues reduced Zimbabwe's innings to ruins and the remaining wicket opportunities became limited.
But Walsh's new captain, fellow Jamaican Jimmy Adams, summoned him for a third spell with two wickets left to fall. The tension continued as, after a maiden over by Walsh, Franklyn Rose dismissed Bryan Strang at the other end to leave just one Zimbabwe wickets remaining.
Walsh summoned all of his energy and, with the fifth ball of his 16th over, created history with the wickets of Henry Olonga. The deadlocked Zimbabwean prodded to short leg, where Wavell Hinds latched onto the offering with his left hand.
The paceman was embraced by his teammates and celebrated by Kissing the ground.
Walsh, who was given a standing ovation as he led his teammates off the field and was hugged by his mother Joan Wollaston.
"When the wickets started tumbling it got a bit dicey and I wondered would I get it," he said, donned in a cap with '435' emblazoned on it.
It was the paceman's third dismissal of th innings, following the wickets of Trevor Gripper, caught behind by Ridley Jacobs for a duck and Grant Flower, taken by Sherwin Campball at second slip for 11.
Having taken two for 46 in the tourist's first innings of 308 all out, Walsh soon wreaked havoc second time around reducing Zimbabwe to 14 for two.
But he had to wait another four hours before making his mark on history.
Walsh passed the milestone in his 114th Test, some 17 Test less than former Indian skipper Kapil Dev, who congratulated the Wes Indian via phone link form Dubai.
Walsh said he was still focusing on the Test Cricket, rather than on extending his new record.
Warne, who became Australia's most successful bowler earlier this month when he claimed his356th Test wicket said Walsh was setting a record that would be tough to beat.
" He's raised the bar and the rest of us have to chase him," Warne said.
Source: The Daily Star.
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