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There were few sights in world cricket that could raise the heckles on a batsman's neck quite like the lumbering frame of Curtly Ambrose, legs pumping at full speed, racing into the wicket. The 6ft 7ins fast bowler, rightly feared for his ferocious pace and steepling bounce, was a potent combination of athleticism, strength and raw aggression housed in the gangly body of a marathon runner.

Ambrose, also a canny operator who had guile and skill to match his channelled hostility, ended his career with 405 Test wickets to his name at an average of 20.99.

Along with his good friend Courtney Walsh, he was the last in a long line of great fast bowlers to come out of the West Indies.

He was in Bermuda this week as part of the island's preparations for the Stanford 20/20 tournament.

Notoriously reclusive in his playing days Ambrose apparently used to refuse interview requests with the same curt retort: "Curtly don't talk to no man."

In retirement, though, Ambrose has relaxed his policy and took time out to talk to the Bermuda Sun about national pride, playing with the greats of the world game and why he prefers to watch basketball than Test cricket.

BDA Sun: World batting records seem to be getting broken every other week at the moment. Do you believe there is a dearth of good fast bowlers in the game today?

CA: I wouldn't really say there is a lack of decent fast bowlers around, but what you can safely say is that it's more of a batsman's game these days.

It's much tougher now for the bowlers but there are still a few talented fast bowlers around.

BDA Sun: In the West Indies, at least, you and Courtney Walsh were the last great fast bowlers to emerge. What do you think has gone wrong?

CA: Yes, Courtney and myself were the last from the great era. I think what happened was that after the retirement of myself and Courtney we found ourselves with a bunch of young fast bowlers coming into the team without the seniors to help them along.

That's one of the real reasons why no one followed us. It is a serious problem today.

I had the fortune to play with Malcolm Marshall, who was one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, so it was easier for me coming through.

BDA Sun: Your homeland Antigua is roughly the same size as Bermuda and has produced many great cricketers, yourself and Viv Richards among them. What is the secret?

CA: Cricket in Antigua was always a passion. It's what you know growing up, it's all that really unified the Caribbean.

Bermuda, even though they love their cricket and have always supported the West Indies team, it is a little different, so it would take a lot more work to get it up to a certain level.

In Antigua it is the passion.

BDA Sun: Did you watch Bermuda in the World Cup?

CA: To be honest with you I don't watch too much cricket. I'm more likely to watch basketball or soccer. I'm a big basketball fan. Even when I was playing I didn't watch too much cricket. It made me tired. When I was playing I could not afford to be tired so I would sit and listen to music instead and I just carried that on when I retired.

I still follow the results but I don't watch it too much.

BDA Sun: What are some of the qualities that helped you become a great bowler?

CA: First of all I am a proud man. I'm an extremely proud man. Anything I do, I want to be the best.

If I can't be the best I want to be as close as possible to the best.

That was my driving force first and foremost.

Secondly, I like to win. I don't take losing well.

When I came into the West Indies side they were the best team in the world and I was forced to learn and learn quickly to strive to be the best in order to stay in the team.

BDA Sun: What was it like to be part of that team - possibly the greatest team to have played any sport?

CA: For me it was really something special. I never dreamed I would play for the West Indies at all and to be in the same team as guys like Sir Viv, Clive Lloyd, the best opening partnership of all time - Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. It was something very special.

I believe it started when we went to Australia in 1975-76 and were murdered.

We lost the series 5-1 and the guys came back to the Caribbean and began a whole new era for the West Indies.

I was not around then but I believe Clive Lloyd brought that pride back to the team - that we would not be beaten like that again.

He told those guys that they were the chosen ones, representing millions of Caribbean people, not just themselves  - we could not accept losing.

From then, there's no team in sport that can beat that kind of record (West Indies' record winning streak).

BDA Sun: What can Bermuda do to improve its cricket?

CA: When you have someone like Gus Logie here to coach the team he'll bring professionalism and winning ways.

It's not going to happen overnight but if you listen to your coach, in time, it will get better. Who knows, you may just see a Bermudian playing for the West Indies in future. I believe the Stanford 20/20 is going to help your cricket. You'll be playing more cricket, you'll be up against the best teams in the region, your players will be exposed.

BDA Sun: What would you say is your best moment in cricket?

CA: I've never really thought of it. I don't know about my most memorable moment, but what I have cherished most from my playing days is how so many players from all over the region came together as one family.

Living together as one family and making West Indies cricket the best in the world.

We were all from different backgrounds, different cultures, living together in harmony. That's what I cherish most from my career.[[In-content Ad]]

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