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All accolades to Shivnarine Chanderpaul
The year 2008 will go down in history as a very productive year for some West Indian cricketers.
It cannot be denied that many of our cricketers have been benefactors of the benevolence of Sir Allen Stanford. His Regional 20/20 series was a smash hit in the West Indies and so has been his inaugural 20/20 for 20 match between a Stanford Superstars team and an English XI.
With the Superstar winning their match against the English, all the lives of those players were instantly transformed by the good graces of Mr Stanford; they all became millionaires in whatever Caribbean currency you choose. While still on the subject of 20/20 cricket, there were also those West Indies players who were able to ‘cash in’ on the Indian Premier League and their brand of cricket.
The greatest West Indian, if not all of cricket, success story was the phenomenal achievements of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. In a year highlighted with Chanderpaul securing the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award, Shiv has crushed innumerable batting records and will have amasses more than one thousand Test runs at an average of over 100 in 2008.
Among his batting achievements were becoming the West Indian with the most test half centuries (the first of which was at Bourda on debut), the only batsman to have faced 1000 deliveries without losing his wicket, and the only batsman to have repeated the feat of batting for more than 1000 minutes without losing his wicket. Chanderpaul has done it four times. WOW.
Chanderpaul’s awesome performances in recent time have consolidated his position as one of the greatest West Indian players ever.
One example of such is his usurping of Sir Gary Sobers’ number three position on the list of All Time Leading West Indian Run Scorers. This achievement is certainly testament to the greatness of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
On leapfrogging Sir Gary, Chanderpaul said, “It is an honour to be up there with Sir Gary and have my name mentioned alongside his name. He is the greatest the world had known.” Such humility, though so hard to find these days, is a trademark of Chanderpaul’s game.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul truly is a great player and should he remain in good health and continue to play with the same level of consistency he has demonstrated over recent times, Chanderpaul may become regarded as simply ‘The Greatest’.
While some sections of the media are uncertain about Chanderpaul’s selection as the GCB’s Cricketer of the Year, this Sports View column is optimistic and fully confident that Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be named Cricketer of the Year 2008 in Guyana.
Chanderpaul has added another well crafted, undisputed century to his list of test centuries on the first day of the second and final test in Napier, New Zeeland.
His hook off the back foot for six that took him from 89 to 95 was reminiscent of the former master Roy Clinton Fredericks. His magnificent stroke for four that took him to 99 was most delightful and his comfortable single that took him to his twentieth hundred was indeed remarkable.
Play on Shiv! Give us excess. All Guyana are anxiously awaiting your arrival home to play England so we may greet you with the hero’s welcome you most certainly deserve.
Cricket Enthusiast
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