Guyanese are proud of Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Dear Editor,

It is sort of silly that, at a time when West Indies badly lack experienced players, the commentators and managers are trying to belittle the most experienced player in the West Indies team – Shivnarine Chanderpaul. I am quite sure that West Indies cricket fans are aware of the weakness and mismanagement of the West Indies Cricket Board. The attacks against Shivnarine Chanderpaul have angered many Guyanese, including those in high offices; because, here at home, we value very highly his contribution to Guyana and West Indies cricket.

However, it is encouraging and heartening to see that Shiv has fought to be in the team, and has ignored the ongoing attacks and strategies to get him out of the team. It is even more remarkable that the third and final Test match between the West Indies and India had made him the most capped Test player in the history of West Indies Cricket. That Test match was his 133 rd, as he surpassed West Indies’ bowling legend Courtney Walsh on 132 matches.

Editor, on this extraordinary achievement, allow me to highlight the career of this phenomenal cricketer:

Chanderpaul has been playing international cricket for 17 years now.

Statistics: He made his Test debut at age 19 against England in Guyana in 1994. Shiv has made 9,344 runs at an average of 49.17, with 23 centuries and 55 half- centuries; his highest score was 203 against South Africa in 2005.

Batting records:

* Chanderpaul is one of only six players to have gone 1000 minutes in Test cricket without conceding his wicket. He has done this four times, and is the only player to have done so more than once.

* He is also the only batsman in the history of Test cricket to have faced 1,000 consecutive balls without getting out.

* He is one of only four batsmen to have averaged more than 100 in two different calendar years, and the only one other than Sir Donald Bradman to do so in consecutive years.

* Chanderpaul has scored the fourth fastest Test hundred in the history of the game. He did so against Australia in Georgetown, Guyana where he made a century off 69 balls.

* He is currently the second highest run scorer for the West Indies, with over 9,000 Test runs; Brian Lara is the number one, with 11,953 runs.

* He is one of only three players to score half-centuries in seven consecutive Test innings.

Awards: He was named the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer- of- the-Year in 2008, when he won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy; and he was also named Wisden’s Cricketer-of-the-Year in 2008. Editor, to play 133 Test matches requires a strong and determined mind. Shiv has demonstrated loyalty to and respect for the game, and for everyone around him. He is one of the most respected batsmen of the modern era. I wish him well in the future, and hope he would continue to make us proud. Congrats, Shiv, on becoming the most capped Test player in the West Indies.

Truly,

Maria Jeffery