But, like a host of others who were in their prime during the 1980s, he found himself on the receiving end much more often than not when opposed to West Indies.
Emburey appeared in four of the five Tests during England's 1986 tour.
West Indies won the lot and, having already achieved a whitewash when they were the visitors in 1984, a sequence of 10 consecutive victories went down in the record books.
Given that the West Indies team of 1986 had an attack comprising Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Patrick Patterson (with Courtney Walsh as first reserve), it was not surprising England failed to reach 200 in seven of their 10 innings.
And considering the Caribbean batting collection of that time included Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson, Larry Gomes and Jeff Dujon, England's bowlers did reasonably well to dismiss their hosts once in every Test.
But while the current West Indian team may be a poor imitation of the all-conquering side of old, Emburey has nothing but praise for the way Vaughan's men have performed.
"It's been fantastic and it gives everyone in the game at home a real thrill," said Emburey, who as head coach of Middlesex is busy preparing for a county season just a couple of weeks away.
"Steve Harmison has been magnificent and looks to have really come of age. He's had a couple of helpful pitches on which to bowl but he's proved himself a match-winner and you can't ask for more than that. And then Simon Jones did so well in the second innings of the Second Test, which is really encouraging after his long injury lay-off."
It has become increasingly fashionable to knock the English county game, with former star players like Mike Atherton and Bob Willis leading the calls for radical change.
Emburey, though, is keen to point out that county cricket has produced the players currently doing the business in the Caribbean.
But can England go on to win 4-0? "It won't be easy by any means because you expect someone in the West Indies batting line-up to make a big score in this series," he said.
"But it would be absolutely brilliant if England could win the last two Tests as well."
