Melbourne Cricket Club had a major influence in the early development of West Indies legend Courtney Walsh.The former fast bowler cut his teeth at the Jamaican powerhouse before going onto bigger and better things with the Windies.Walsh grew up in a small community situated near to Melbourne CC’s ground in Kingston, Jamaica so it was inevitable that he would one day play for a club that has produced several outstanding cricketers.The man who claimed 519 Test wickets and 227 ODI scalps for the Windies between 1984 and 2001 started his rise to cricket stardom as a substitute fielder at Melbourne CC as a young kid back in the late 1960s.Looking back at those early days of his career, Walsh attributes much of the success he ultimately achieved in cricket to the nurturing he received at Melbourne CC who are set to tour Bermuda with a 13-man squad next month.“As a youngster I had a lot of opportunities to play for the club and it certainly boosted my career and gave me all the opportunities I needed and I grabbed them with both hands,” he told The Royal Gazette. “That’s one of the main reasons why I’m still involved and a part of the club trying to encourage all the youngsters and see if we can open the doors for them and if they can sort of make a name for themselves and keep that rich tradition inside the club going.”Walsh is an Honorary Life Member, coach and a benefactor of Melbourne CC.Club president Neville Atkinson described the former fast bowler as an “integral” part of the club who is always willing to give back to the sport.“That is something that is very important to us and the signal that he sends to the membership of the club is very profound,” he said. “He has a foundation (Courtney Walsh Foundation) that he uses to offer assistance to various clubs and not only his club.“Last week he gave gear to Lucas which is the club of Chris Gayle so he doesn’t just stick to his club. He spreads whatever he’s doing to other clubs and that’s the stature of the man — he’s not a selfish person at all.”Atkinson said the former right-arm fast bowler has a major influence on the youngsters he comes into contact with at the club.“They (youngsters) are very close to him and a lot of them know him because he actually grew up in the vicinity there and has never left,” he added. “Whenever he’s in Jamaica and has the time he is a part of our coaching team and has been a tower of strength as far as the club is concerned. He is one of the club’s benefactors and the club benefits a lot from his support.”Atkinson first met Walsh when he was a youngster growing up in Kingston.“He grew up in the club and was actually there as a baby,” he recalled. “There’s a little community adjacent to the club and that’s where he was born so he would just come across the fence and he would be on the field of Melbourne.“I joined the club in 1968 and he was there as a youngster and we would use him as an emergency fieldsman and he would be there for that time. He grew up in the club and never left.”Walsh, who also captained the Windies in 22 Test matches, will serve as manager during Melbourne CC’s tour of Bermuda next month.Former West Indies batsman Robert Samuels, the elder brother of current Windies player Marlon Samuels, is the current coach of Melbourne CC.