Courtney Walsh's final moments as a test cricketer will stay with him for the rest of his life. A Jamaican through and through, a winner and a gentleman, he was able to experience and indulge in all three pleasures as he helped West Indies to a 130-run victory over South Africa in the fifth and final test at Sabina Park this week.
When South African last man Paul Adams sliced a delivery from Mervyn Dillon to Marlon Samuels at backward point, the catcher was suddenly all alone. Everyone else was running towards Walsh at fine leg. Dillon, who many in the Caribbean hope will go furthest to filling the gaping void created by Walsh's departure, leapt into his mentor's embrace and was immediately followed by the third fast bowler in the side, Cameron Cuffy. Brian Lara, meanwhile, had persuaded umpire Steve Bucknor to part with the match ball and sprinted towards Walsh and his ecstatic gathering to present him with the memento as well as a stump he had grabbed when victory was complete.
Walsh was hugged by every one of his team mates and then, left briefly alone, saluted his adoring fans and accepted the embraces of groundstaff, security guards and anyone else who had managed to climb over the perimeter fences in time. The famous Sabina Park Mound played the moving reggae song composed and written in his honour by local DJ Zum Jay: "Whoa di big man inna cricket" and the crowd joined in, "Whoa lick down batsman wicket..."
As Walsh finally reached the pavilion he was greeted by another guard of honour, team mates and South Africans alike lining up to applaud him as he made his way into the dressing room where he contemplatively sipped champagne straight from the bottle. "I said before the game that I was going to come out and enjoy five days of good cricket and, it's a good team, maybe we could have a win to provide a nice send off for me. The team played unbelievable cricket and I'm just grateful for that," Walsh said after the game.
"When I broke the record (for the most wickets) last year it was a tremendous occasion, I broke a record, we won the test and it was a series win as well. It was fantastic to finish it all here, on home turf, but that was probably a bit more special," Walsh said when asked about his favourite memory from a career spanning 132 tests in 17 years. Walsh thanked "everyone involved with West Indian cricket, from the very top to the very bottom, but most importantly the fans who have shown tremendous loyalty and stuck by me and supported me through thick and thin."
The cheers were deafening. Walsh noted, too, the "good sportsmanship" of the South Africans who formed a guard of honour when he came out to bat for the last time on the fourth morning and joined in the applause and back-slapping congratulations immediately the match ended. "In my last test series in England they did the same thing and they did it in Australia, too. All the opposition teams I have played against have treated me with the utmost respect and I'm very grateful for that. I just want to thank them for that and wish them well in their endeavours."
"But to my own team mates, who have always given me their support through thick and thin, I want to thank you. You have answered the call for me in this test match...thank you." As promised before his final match, the 38-year-old Walsh plans to take a complete rest for about six months before deciding where his future lies. "I spoke to Allan Donald and he recommended six months off, put the feet up, play a little golf...I'm going to spend some time with the family at home, some time with my son and daughter. I'm just going to refresh myself, recharge my batteries and then focus on the next stage of my life from here on in." It is a credit to the nature and spirit of the man that no one seemed to be sad as he said goodbye.
Maybe it was because West Indies had won their first test in 14 attempts, but more likely the noise, the vibe and the unrestrained joy pulsating from the party on the Mound was because Jamaicans were simply overflowing with pride that Courtney was one of them.
