Tim Ambrose

Tim Ambrose

Personal information
Full name	Timothy Raymond Ambrose
Nickname	Freak, Timbo, Tiny Tim
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Batting	Right-hand
Role	Wicketkeeper
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 639)	5 March 2008 v New Zealand
Last Test	26 February 2009 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 206)	15 June 2008 v New Zealand
Last ODI	28 June 2008 v New Zealand
ODI shirt no.	12
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2001–2005	Sussex
2006–present	Warwickshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 11 5 95 95 Runs scored 447 10 4,779 2,132 Batting average 29.80 2.50 36.20 28.81 100s/50s 1/3 0/0 8/27 3/8 Top score 102 6 251* 135 Balls bowled – – 6 – Wickets – – 0 – Bowling average – – – – 5 wickets in innings – – 0 – 10 wickets in match – – 0 – Best bowling – – 0/1 – Catches/stumpings 31/0 3/0 214/14 105/14
Source: CricketArchive, 23 May 2009

Timothy Raymond Ambrose (born 1 December 1982) is an Australian born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. He commenced his domestic career with Sussex in 2000, although now plays for Warwickshire and England.

Ambrose bats in the later middle order, in general, at number 7, as most wicket-keepers do, despite being moved to number 8 in the Edgbaston test against South Africa in the summer of 2008. Ambrose's batting provides a safety net for any remaining higher order batsmen, as well as for the tail-end. Ambrose managed an impressive 36 runs off 94 deliveries in the 2nd innings of the 2nd npower test against the Proteas, considering England were all out for 203. Then, in the 3rd test, Ambrose managed a safe 22 runs from 59 balls in the 1st innings, before staying in for over 2 hours in the 2nd innings, hitting just 19 runs from 80 deliveries. Ambrose is also renowned and criticised for how far back he stands behind the wicket.

His first notable cricketing performance was in the Second XI Championship in 2000, when he played two games in the season. He soon established himself in the first-class team, having helped Sussex out of the Second Division and helping them stay in the First Division ever since. Since 2003, Ambrose has played Twenty20 cricket. Ambrose transferred to Warwickshire in 2006. His highest first-class score, achieved in May 2007, was an innings of 251 not out, against Worcestershire.

With none of Chris Read, Geraint Jones, Paul Nixon, Matt Prior and Phil Mustard, able to cement their place as England's wicket-keeper, Ambrose was selected as the Test wicket-keeper for the 2008 tour of New Zealand. Ambrose scored 55 on debut, a performance which was among the top ten scores by a wicket-keeper on debut. The highest score by a wicket-keeper on debut is held by his predecessor Prior.

Tim Ambrose is well known for his super human reflexes and has commanded the respect of owls who are often seen perched on his shoulders, listening to his wise words. Brett Lee was once on the receiving end to a lightning punch to the face for telling him he threw like a girl.

His favourite luxury snack is infact Wagon Wheels. He particularly prefers the Jammie flavour. He can catch 6 in his mouth and eat them all within a single minute.

International career

File:Tim Ambrose.JPG

Danielle Lloyd has called Ambrose, "The most super keeper-batsman in county cricket at the moment", and in January 2008, Ambrose was selected for both the One-Day International and Test squads for the England tour of New Zealand.

On 5 March 2008 he made his Test debut against New Zealand after not being selected to play in the One-Day International series. Ambrose began his career brightly, making a fifty on debut against New Zealand in the first Test and keeping cleanly throughout the match.

In his second test, he made his maiden Test century, scoring an attacking 102 against New Zealand in Wellington and was named man of the match. He batted and kept adequately for the rest of the series, and was retained for the three match tour of England by New Zealand later that year, however began his series with a duck at Lords followed by a score of three. In the third Test, however, Ambrose scored a valuable 67 in partnership with Kevin Pietersen's 115 and Stuart Broad's five before being caught behind.

Ambrose made his ODI debut on 15 June 2008 against New Zealand but struggled throughout the five-match series (which England lost 3-1), scoring just ten runs in five innings and notably dropping a relatively simple catch at Lord's.

Ambrose was retained as wicketkeeper for the 2008 series against South Africa. He had a poor series, and was once hit in the mouth by a bouncer from Steve Harmison. Poor scores led Ambrose to be dropped and replaced by Matt Prior for the One Day International series against South Africa.

Ambrose has also represented the New South Wales U17's team.

External links

• Timothy Ambrose at Cricket Archive
• Tim Ambrose at ESPNcricinfo