>

How Will The West Indies Cope Without Chanderpaul?

More
13 Jun 2014 10:09 #195863 by chairman
The very thought of Shivnarine Chanderpaul not playing international cricket in the near future may be enough to send shivers down any West Indian fan's spine.

Not only has Chanderpaul been the anchor of the West Indies' middle order for the last two decades, but he has also become the player the team relies upon when they find themselves in sticky situations.

Chanderpaul, who made his Test debut at the age of 19, is renowned for his unorthodox batting stance. In fact, he revealed that he adopted the stance when he was just a youngster and has stuck with it throughout his career since it would allow him to see the ball clearly with both eyes.

Despite the cricketing community branding his stance as ugly and "crab-like", Chanderpaul has silenced all his critics by letting his bat do the talking.

The 39-year-old Guyanese is currently the sixth-highest Test run-scorer in history with 11,327 runs, and he is also the second-highest in terms of West Indians. Only the legendary Brian Lara is ahead of him with 11,953 runs.

In the 154 Test matches he has played for his country, it is hard to believe that Chanderpaul has managed to score 29 centuries and 63 half-centuries, all while maintaining an impressive average of 52.19.

Chanderpaul has been not out on 46 different occasions, which is exactly why I referred to him as West Indies' middle order anchor. It is simply not good enough for the West Indies to continue putting their faith in him to make a big score every inning.

The top-order batsmen have to start firing, especially players like Kieran Powell, Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo, all of whom have been earmarked as future icons and legends.

Once Chanderpaul does decide to hang up his boots, the West Indies will enter panic mode because firstly, they will not have anyone to rescue them from dire situations, and secondly, they will need to find a student brimming with talent to replace the sensei himself.

However, finding this new talent may prove more difficult for the West Indies in comparison to other cricket boards due to frequent clashes between players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

More often than not, it is the West Indian superstars that have found themselves in hot water with the WICB. One prime example is that of flamboyant opening batsman Chris Gayle. In 2011, the Jamaican powerhouse decided to represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) instead of representing his country. This escalated into a major dispute between him and the WICB, but it all started when Gayle was left out of West Indies squad for the first two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan in April 2011.

Similarly, spin maestro Sunil Narine did the same thing earlier this month when he decided to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL final. As a result of his actions, the WICB decided to drop him for the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.

These types of disputes is exactly why finding a replacement for Chanderpaul is going to be that much harder. If well-respected players are more inclined to participate in overseas Twenty20 tournaments, this trend may trickle down and influence the younger generation, who may be enticed to follow in the footsteps of their current idols.

If this theme continues, then the West Indies, who currently ranked eighth on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test team rankings, may slip further down. This will be extremely humiliating and embarrassing for the fans of the country, considering their illustrious history.

With Chanderpaul soon to join retired West Indian batting legends such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Viv Richards and Lara, the future of West Indian cricket is shaping to be as turbulent as the storms that often hit the picturesque country.

Bimal Mirwani is a cricket writer and student at Kingston University. He tweets @BimalMirwani and you can read more of his work here.

© Cricket World 2014
www.cricketworld.com/

Always tell someone how you feel because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye but regret can last a lifetime.
cricketwindies.com/forum/

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 Jun 2014 10:14 #195864 by ketchim
The 39-year-old Guyanese is currently the sixth-highest Test run-scorer in history with :

.................................................................................11,327 runs

Only the legendary Brian Lara is ahead of him with 11,953 runs.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 Jun 2014 12:14 #195921 by TRINIDADDY
They will cope excellently without Chanders, as they will be relegated to playing Kenya and Canada only.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 Jun 2014 12:19 #195925 by ketchim
An Afro replacement have some posters chomping at the bits  :P

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.160 seconds
ChristinaWiaan Mulder declaring with himself being 367 not out, is beyond commendable and sportsmanship. Tho many questions will be asked.(07.07.2025, 10:06)(10:06)0
IngridHow bad are the West Indies ?
Their batting is absolutely abysmal
(06.07.2025, 16:36)(16:36)0
QuintinMexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say(03.07.2025, 19:05)(19:05)0
QuintinKraigg Brathwaite reaches 100 Tests: 'I was in total disbelief that I could score a hundred for West Indies'(03.07.2025, 18:52)(18:52)0
LoganBad performance by west indies(28.06.2025, 06:48)(06:48)0
QuintinMasai Ujiri fired as Raptors president and vice chairman after 13 years with franchise(27.06.2025, 17:50)(17:50)0
LoganAustralia 180 all out(26.06.2025, 06:45)(06:45)0
Logan99 for 3(25.06.2025, 13:21)(13:21)0
LoganShammar 2 wickets(25.06.2025, 12:13)(12:13)0
Logan65 for 3 at lunch(25.06.2025, 12:12)(12:12)0
WendyDid you know 160 years ago, Texans moved to Brazil to start a Confederate colony with Slavery, after #Juneteenth? ?(24.06.2025, 09:55)(09:55)0
WendyGood morning(24.06.2025, 09:29)(09:29)0
MelodyVaughan 'staggered' by England's bowl-first decision as India dominate at Headingley(20.06.2025, 19:19)(19:19)0
chairmanPPP/C is UNSTOPPABLE….
So all de small parties coming together to try beat the PPP/C
Guyanese don’t be fooled
Vote for Peace Progress and Prosperity.
(19.06.2025, 07:51)(07:51)0
PeytonCOACH SAMMY TO MISS IRELAND T20Is(05.06.2025, 18:49)(18:49)0
ketchimJune 1st 2ndODI : replace the 4 guys on the bench : Evin Lewis, John Campbell, Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades !(31.05.2025, 15:09)(15:09)0
chairmanHuge defeat(29.05.2025, 19:07)(19:07)0
chairmanMatthew Forde you beauty. I didn't even realise he averages almost 40 in FC. And he is only 23 yrs old.(23.05.2025, 20:05)(20:05)0
chairmanWelcome to Guyana - Hakeem Olajuwon, also known as "The Dream,"
A storied career:

- 2x NBA Champion (1994, 1995)
- 2x NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
- 12x NBA All-Star
- 12x All-NBA Team selection
- 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team
- NBA MVP (1994)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1994)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1984)
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008

One of the greatest players in NBA history.
(23.05.2025, 10:05)(10:05)0
chairmanI would like to see every house in Essequibo has a Guyana ?? Flag
and possibly the Rest of Guyana ??
(19.05.2025, 06:38)(06:38)0
PeytonSevere weather leaves at least 27 dead, including 18 in Kentucky(17.05.2025, 18:46)(18:46)0
chairmanCongratulations to the newly appointed Roston Chase as West Indies Test captain.
Does he have any captain/ leadership experience?
Your thoughts:
(16.05.2025, 19:23)(19:23)0
TalonDozens of white South Africans arrive in US under Trump refugee plan(12.05.2025, 19:57)(19:57)0
BryantRomario Shepherd hits the FATEST FIFTY for any batter in RCB colours!
Second fastest fifty in the history of the IPL.
(03.05.2025, 15:16)(15:16)0
JamisonTrump celebrates the Super Bowl champ Eagles at White House(30.04.2025, 18:26)(18:26)0
JamisonUNC’s Belichick defends Hudson as ‘doing her job’ after interjecting during CBS interview(30.04.2025, 18:25)(18:25)0
JamisonHundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism(22.04.2025, 18:58)(18:58)0
JamisonGunmen break into former Seahawks player Richard Sherman's home with family inside(01.04.2025, 18:34)(18:34)0
JamisonRichard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” who found a second career as an award-winning “king of the miniseries,” has died. He was 90.(30.03.2025, 10:58)(10:58)0
BridgerWest Indies cricket team official website(23.03.2025, 00:23)(00:23)0
LyricUnfortunately, after spending 9 months in space, looking over the entire earth, the two Astronauts failed to locate APNU/AFC SOPs.(18.03.2025, 22:04)(22:04)0
LyricThe hour we lost was the one when I was planning to go to the gym(11.03.2025, 17:59)(17:59)0
GianniWest Indies latest Test match scorecard(11.03.2025, 11:34)(11:34)0
ScarletSteven Smith South Africa cricket(10.03.2025, 12:11)(12:11)0
ketchimCanada get new Prime Minister : Edmonton Mark Carney !(09.03.2025, 20:51)(20:51)0
ConnerDr. Ashni Singh quote on government's stance on corrupt practices(08.03.2025, 16:12)(16:12)0
LyricGuy scored 368 bowl out Jam for 44 & didn't enforce the follow-on? That's bull crap(07.03.2025, 09:37)(09:37)0
LyricYesterday, my wife thought she saw a cockroach in the kitchen. She sprayed everything down and cleaned thoroughly.
Today I'm putting the cockroach in the bathroom.
(06.03.2025, 17:19)(17:19)0
ShilohU.S. says consequences for Maduro regime if provocation continues(02.03.2025, 08:56)(08:56)0
Shiloh–Guyana stands firmly against Venezuela’s incursion(02.03.2025, 08:56)(08:56)0
PatienceCongratulations to Trinidadian, Jason Mohammed on an outstanding achievement—three consecutive first class centuries!
• 176 against CCC
• 103 against Windward Islands
• An unbeaten 204 against Leeward Islands
(15.02.2025, 21:22)(21:22)0
NovaGPHC fires senior doctor, suspends two others after investigation of stillbirth(14.02.2025, 19:40)(19:40)0
Amareinfluential women in West Indies cricket(09.02.2025, 03:16)(03:16)0
PatienceSteven Smith scored yet another test century (36) and belongs to the list of one-off the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket!(08.02.2025, 20:51)(20:51)0
PatienceBEAUTIFUL GUYANA CRUSH TINY BARBADOS HANDSOMELY INSIDE THREE DAYS AT GUYANA NATIONAL LORDS STADIUM .(01.02.2025, 12:35)(12:35)0
MarissaSteve Smith scored yet another test century today!
The greatest batsman in the world today!
(30.01.2025, 13:21)(13:21)0
MarissaTHE GENUINE WEST INDIES FANS REALLY DID ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THIS VICTORY.(27.01.2025, 07:40)(07:40)0
MarissaAn excellent fight back by the West Indies to dismiss Pakistan for 154. Warrican 4/43 and Motie 3/49. Well done lads. Let the cricket play.(25.01.2025, 11:44)(11:44)0
LanceTrump says he’s considering ‘getting rid of FEMA’ as he visits hurricane-damaged North Carolina(24.01.2025, 19:55)(19:55)0
DeaconCumberbatch(22.01.2025, 12:19)(12:19)0
Conor
Go to top