Ambrose wanted to 'knock out' cursing Steve Waugh

West Indies great Curtly Ambrose has confirmed that he was frustrated enough to threaten to "knock out" Australian cricketer Steve Waugh during a heated on-field exchange in a Test match in Trinidad 20 years ago.

Speaking to media during the release of his autobiography -- Curtly Ambrose - Time to Talk - Ambrose recalling Australia's breakthrough series victory in the Caribbean in 1995, said his frustration grew with Waugh during the crucial third test.

He revealed how fellow quick, the imposing Kenny Benjamin, had told him that Waugh had "cursed" and had told me (Ambrose) to 'eff off'

Ambrose said he thought this was disrespectful, and he got a confirmation from Waugh himself during the post-lunch period, and thereafter, he decided to let him have it.

Ambrose said that now after 20 years, he did think that he had lost it, and that he did tell Waugh during a heated exchange, 'Man, I will knock you out - here and now. I don't care if I have no career left'.

The West Indian fast bowler said that had skipper Richie Richardson not intervened at that stage to calm things down, he would not have been able to restrain himself.

Ambrose and Waugh were reported and appeared before match referee Majid Khan but, to Ambrose's surprise, both escaped a sanction.

Ambrose said he and Waugh had never discussed the moment.

While the West Indies would even the series in Trinidad, the tourists prevailed in Jamaica, their series victory bankrolled by Waugh's double century and a fine hundred by Mark Waugh.

Ambrose still blames Junior Murray for that final defeat, for the first-choice wicketkeeper had pulled out of the decider two days before the game because of a "severe headache".

His replacement, debutant Courtney Browne, dropped Steve Waugh on 42 and paved the way for his eventual score of 200.