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Frederick Kissoon, new cricket commentator! Disappointed!
DEAR EDITOR,
At times I sit and get amazed of how people like to become overnight specialists in a given area that, honestly, they are very ignorant and for the lack of a better word, stupid.
Sad I had to pen this letter in response to the Frederick Kissoon piece “The Chanderpaul issue: Sentiments are dangerous things”. I have full respect because of the tenacity and courage of this columnist, but I have lost a little bit of that respect after reading that piece. I wish not to highlight the political propaganda he tried to close his article with, but more focus on his main message.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is indeed aged, he is not an eighteen year-old boy anymore, he has never been the most vocal, yet he delivers again and again for the Maroon colours. He has been the subject of many debatable calls, such as being dropped from the ODI team. This was at a time when the West Indies team needed someone who could actually bat 50 overs, unlike 20-over specialists Bravo, Pollard, Russell, Sammy, and Gayle. Yet, in all its absurdity, the Coach (Simmons) and Chief Selector (Lloyd) have called for consideration of these “global stars”, T20 specialists, to be considered for the future.
But before I do get sentimental Mr. Kissoon, let me transition into the details you should have explored before penning that article.
Indeed, Shiv, aka. The Tiger, has failed in the past series (very short time to call an end to anyone’s career, much less that of a player who has been your bedrock), but that is only for four test matches, that he averaged a paltry 18.81. You know what is even more daunting? In 2014, he played 7 tests. You want to guess his average? It was in the 70s. Yes, 70s, just a year ago Mr. Kissoon.
I do not wish to indulge in your lack of statistical reasoning, but being a political scientist, I guess you do rarely indulge in Statistical comprehension. I would recommend you strongly check your numbers when you pen a letter, especially when you are not a specialist on the topic.
You want to know what is even more interesting Mr. Kissoon, the domestic competition used to select the players for the Test squad was completed a couple of months back, I followed it here in cold Edmonton, did you? Based on the article you wrote, you sure didn’t. Shiv scored the most runs by any Guyanese player (8 matches, made 539 runs at an average of 44.50) leading them to the Regional Four Day Championship. Again, how you can even assert this guy is not fit for cricket or has lost his touch?
But to end, I would like to just draw on a specific comparison I find very interesting. Marlon Samuels has been playing excellently lately, but he had a lot, and I repeat a lot of bad years, yet the Selectors continued to include him. Yet, Shiv fails for four matches, and you drop him, maybe ending his career. Below I have compared the years these two players have played Test Cricket for West Indies, tabulated under year, matches played, average, and runs scored. Noticed anything interesting or shabby? Look again, very closely Mr. Kissoon. I would not comment further, I will let you and the readers interpret those numbers.
A few key points: notice the many years with sub-par averages (less than 30) for Samuels? How many such years are there for Chanderpaul?
Finally, I would comment on the place of a few players in the squad who I think are totally wastes of time and just favours being passed around. Devon Smith, Denesh Ramdin, and Sulieman Benn have been tried until their backs are literally being broken. It is time for Shane Dowrich, the Guyanese spin twins and Narine, and batsmen such as Leon Johnson, Jason Mohammed, and Shai Hope to be groomed around stalwarts such as Shiv.
West Indies cricket needed a hero during a horrific past decade, we got that through the Prince of Port of Spain in the earlier years, and then Shiv. He has always given us hope, a slight bit, but it’s enough to cling onto.
So Mr. Kissoon, as much respect as I have for you, please sir, please do some research next time, and do not mix you political dabbles with the genuine character of a true statesman – Shivnarine Chanderpaul!
Michael George, cricket lover!
University of Alberta
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