Steve Waugh, while in conversation with Michael Atherton on Sky Sports Cricket, has revealed that Curtly Ambrose was his most respected opponent.
Calling Ambrose an “incredible adversary”, Waugh revealed how the former West Indies speedster avoided verbal altercations. But, according to him, the fact that the batsman was left thinking whether Ambrose was “trying to get me out or is trying to physically hurt me” made it worse.
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“Curtly Ambrose was a great bowler,” Waugh said. “He was an incredible adversary and my most respected opponent. He never said anything to you, and that was worse than sledging. You didn’t know what he was thinking. Is he trying to get me out, or is he trying to physically hurt me? And that’s worse than someone actually telling you what they are going to do. He was always there on the good length, and his short ball was at your throat. He was an incredible competitor.”
The duo were involved in quite a few on-field battles, and only last month Ambrose revealed how he once broke his sledging rule to threaten the Australia batsman.
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Curtly Ambrose celebrates after dismissing Steve Waugh[/caption]
“Steve Waugh and I had our battles over the years,” he said. “He was a tough competitor and I have a lot of respect for him, but in that particular game he said something to me that I didn’t like.
“Initially I ignored it, as in the heat of the battle you can say things, but after a break something just snapped. I asked him, ‘Did you say so and so to me?’ He didn’t say yes, he didn’t say no. He just said ‘I can say anything I want to say’, which to me was a yes. I decided I deserved more respect, so I had a few choice words for him.
“I said, ‘my cricket career could be over right this minute, it doesn’t make a difference to me, but your career will be over, too, because I’ll knock you out and you won’t be able to play any more’. There were a few expletives in between obviously!
“I was upset as I deserved more respect – but it started and ended there. I have seen him a few times since and we have never spoken about it.”
