Steve Waugh vs Curtly Ambrose is one of the most defining rivalries of the 1990s. Steve Waugh was one of the best batters in the world and Curtly Ambrose was one of the best fast bowlers in the world. It was a rivalry that encapsulated the rivalry between the two best teams in world cricket at that point. During this time both the batter and the bowler had the chance to get the better of each other as the pitch was good.
Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh is one of the greatest Australian batters of all time. He was the captain of the Australian team for years. He played 168 Test Matches for Australia and scored 10927 runs at an average of 51.06. He hit 42 Test Hundreds in his career. He also played in 325 ODIs for Australia and he made 7569 runs. He hit 3 Hundreds in ODI Cricket. Steve Waugh hit 18000+ international runs for Australia. Take a look here at Best Innings of Steve Waugh
Curtly Ambrose
The West Indies legend Curtly Ambrose is one of the most lethal fast bowlers to have ever played the sport. He was one of the main reasons that West Indies were such a dominant side in both formats. He played 98 Test Matches for West Indies. He took 405 Wickets at an average of 20.99. He took 22 Five Wicket Hauls and 3 times he has taken 10 wickets in a Test Match. He also played 176 ODIs for West Indies and he took 225 wickets. He took a total of 630 wickets in international cricket for West Indies. Do look here at Best Bowling Performances of Curtly Ambrose
Head to Head
Steve Waugh and Curtly Ambrose have played each other for almost a decade. This is reflected as Curtly Ambrose dismissed Steve Waugh 16 times in his international career. This is one of the most times a bowler has dismissed a batter in international cricket.
Memorable Encounters
In the 1992-93 series Steve Waugh was dismissed 6 times in 9 innings by Curtly Ambrose. Steve Waugh was not able to make an impression on world cricket.
In the 1995 series it was again West Indies vs Australia and it was 1-0 going into the 3rd Test. Steve Waugh was met with a bouncer that went over his head and Ambrose stared at him. Steve Waugh had enough and he cussed Curtly Ambrose and after that he bowled the two fastest balls of his life and one hit the shoulder of Steve Waugh.
Steve Waugh survived the onslaught of Curtly Ambrose In that Test Match and he made a well made 63 not out. Curtly Ambrose was not able to dismiss Steve Waugh once in the 1995 series. This was the stuff that legends are made of
