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Shivnarine Chanderpaul – a batting genius who should be duly recognized
DEAR EDITOR,
He is known as “Tiger” because of the seriousness he takes to his batting. Some say he is like “money in the bank” because of his consistency. Some simply feel he is a batting genius.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the West Indian batsman who has played the most Test matches — 158 — as the Windies played their 500th Test match in St. Lucia against Bangladesh. At 40, Chanderpaul blasted 101 not out following up his first innings total of 84 not out and in the first Test he scored 85 not out.
‘Shiv’, as he is fondly called, has the world record of batting for 1,513 minutes without dismissals. Although he is being dubbed as slow in his batting, yet he scored a century off 69 deliveries against Australia in 2003 – the third fastest century in test cricket.
He has so far scored 11,684 Test runs, the second highest by a West Indian next to Brian Lara with 11,953. If all goes well “Tiger” will surpass Lara’s record.
Shiv’s test average is 53.10. He has scored 30 centuries and 65 half centuries in Tests. His highest score is 203 not out. He has played 268 One day Internationals and scored 8,778 runs at an average of 41.60 scoring 11 centuries and 59 half centuries. He also scored a triple century in a regional match in Jamaica.
He captained the West Indies in 14 Tests and 16 ODIs. He has scored more than 20,000 runs in international cricket and in 2008 he was named Cricketer of the Year by Wisden Cricketers Almanac and Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council (ICC). He made his international debut at the age of 19 and partnered Lara in Antigua when the Trinidadian broke Sir Garfield Sobers’ record for the highest test score.
“Tiger” is a top class batsman who has represented Guyana, Durham, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Khulna Royal and Derbyshire.
Myself and wife Mourine met Chanderpaul at the GCC ground at a reception when he was selected to represent the Windies. He was a shy and frail-looking teenager. He was born at a little village on the East Coast of Demerara – the same village where the former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, long serving President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh, and former speedster Colin Croft were born.
He was given some sort of recognition by the Guyana Government — a street in Georgetown was named after him and he was accorded the country’s third highest award – the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH). I feel he should be awarded the Order of Roraima (OR) the second highest and CARICOM should recognize him with the OCC – Order of Caribbean Community, as they did to Lara, Mighty Sparrow and others. The UWI should also consider an honorary doctorate for him as they did to Lara and Sparrow.
Oscar Ramjeet
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