REMARKS FOR WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GREGORY SHILLINGFORD, ON THE OCCASION OF COURTNEY WALSH CAPTURING HIS 500TH TEST WICKET

March 19, 2001 - Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad (West Indies vs South Africa)

ON behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the West Indies cricket team, West Indies fans and the cricketing public all over the world, I wish to congratulate Courtney Walsh on this most phenomenal and wonderful achievement of becoming the first bowler to attain 500 Test wickets.

Courtney, your achievement of 500 Test wickets at a strike rate of 57.79, with an average of 24.71 in 129 Tests in 4806.3 overs with 21 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls with a best performance of seven for 37 is truly an inspiration to all of us in West Indies cricket, both on and off the field. Your unwavering spirit, your commitment to excellence and your durability have been admired by all of us who have enjoyed his many heroics for the West Indies over the past two decades.

We have come to associate your name with greatness as you have amassed milestone after milestone and today you have done it again - 500 Test wickets. You have gone where no-one has gone before.

Courtney, you have made all West Indians extremely proud today and what better occasion than the 50th Test match at Queen's Park Oval for you to have taken your 500th Test wicket. This is truly a golden celebration.

We salute you.