LONDON, England (CMC)— Fast bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose has praised the young West Indies team following their amazing win over England in the second Test match at Headingley.

Sir Curtly was scathing in his criticism of the Windies following the defeat in the first Test. The visitors, however, hit back in the second contest when they chased down 322 on the final day to win by five wickets in one of the greatest matches in Test history.

Writing in the Daily Mail newspaper in England, Sir Curtly said: “I would like to begin by congratulating West Indies on their amazing win in the second Test at Headingley. They played very well and deserved their victory.

“Last week I had some strong words to say about their performance at Edgbaston, where they lost 19 wickets in a day. Some thought I was being harsh. But my criticism was fair and just.”

He added: “…the way West Indies played at Headingley tells me that those guys could have played a lot better in the first Test. They took the attack to England and they played with confidence and self-belief, which is all I asked for. I’m very pleased for them.”

Sir Curtly is one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. He took 405 wickets in 98 Test matches. He is famous for several top-class bowling performances, including a match-winning eight-wicket haul against England in Barbados in 1990 and the phenomenal spell of seven wickets for one run against Australia at Perth in 1992-93 series.

“I’m happy if my words had an impact. I would also like to point out that people dwelled on the negative things I said in that column,” said Sir Curtly who until last year served as the Windies bowling coach.