Guyanese in NY are very impressed with Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Dear Editor,
At the senior level, there is nothing to shout about as yet, but who knows, maybe in the near future, Tagenarine Chanderpaul will start on the tracks set by his father, Shivnarine. Tagenarine Brandon Chanderpaul was born May 1996 – a few have posited 1997 – and is now a cricketer, who is beginning to build a reputation. He has donned local colours, starting back in February 9, 2013, at the senior level in four games, and even though he has not yet landed a big score, the signs are there.
He did get a 42 and, in this knock, one of his father’s traits was noticed – as the innings progresses, he gets better. Like his father, he is a left-handed player, but his niche is the opening spot.
The current English season is so much the better because of him. The lad, also with a proclivity for academics, struck his third unbeaten century in a row for his side, Stainsby Hall. The innings helped his side to win their latest game of the Division Six of the Newark Alliance tournament. So the signs are there.
However, young Chanderpaul must become quickly cognisant of the new developments in the game. Cricket these days is about entertainment. The Australians were chided for their terrible showing, losing 0-4 to India at tests, in their last series.
The general agreement was that T20 habits killed them. At the ever popular IPL, the average non-test players are having the time of their lives, and if by nature, some of them are irresponsible and reckless, then the better it seems for them.
The classic case of this is Dwayne Smith, a double discard where four day and tests are concerned. So Tagenarine has to quickly decide which way he will go, as the ‘horses for courses’ philosophy is quite en vogue now.
The T20 is no doubt, for now, the West Indies forte.
However, their returns at the one-day and test levels are most meagre against high rated teams. In recent times too, the West Indies have not been able to bat through their 50-over allotment.
Does this make a case for the young man? I think so, as inevitably truth will come to the fore. With Chris Gayle as the lone established opener in all forms of the game for West Indies, and since he is over 30, greatness is beckoning for a star.
Maybe, even if at only the test level, cricket seems set to be a forum for the Chanderpauls – the dad has another few years left, and maybe his exit will signal the entrance of his prodigy.
This is the very best way to pass on the baton.
Cricket fanatic,
Anil Pertab