Re: My Top 100 Cricketers
96.) Shivenarine Chanderpaul
[thumbnail=B]55005.jpg[/thumbnail]
The possessor of the crabbiest technique in world cricket, Shivnarine Chanderpaul proves there is life beyond the coaching handbook. He never seems to play in the V, or off the front foot, but uses soft hands, canny deflections, and a whiplash pull-shot to maintain a Test average close to 40. In cricket terms, Chanderpaul has had two main problems: first, a low conversion rate of around one hundred to every ten fifties, and secondly, his physical frailty, widely thought to be hypochondria. That myth was exploded when a large piece of floating bone was removed from his foot late in 2000, and, suitably liberated, he set about rectifying his hundreds problem, scoring three in four Tests against India in 2001-02, and two more in the home series against Australia the following year, including 104 as West Indies successfully chased a world-record 418 for victory in the final Test in Antigua. A good run in South Africa in 2003-04 preceded a tough one with England - only his second lean trot in a decade of international cricket. But like in the good ol' days, he rediscovered form on the tour to England, and though his batting did not change the team's fortunes, it lessened the margins of defeat greatly. However, in the Champions Trophy that followed, he contributed to the victory greatly with a consistent performance. The following year he was appointed West Indian captain during an acrimonious contracts dispute, and celebrated with a double-century in front of his home fans in Guyana, although he was too passive in the field to prevent South Africa taking the series. Displaying a rare streak of violence, he once managed to shoot a policeman in the hand in his native Guyana, mistaking him for a mugger.
Batting and fielding averages
class mat inns no runs hs ave bf sr 100 50 4s 6s ct st
Tests 91 155 21 6156 203* 45.94 14334 42.94 14 35 717 13 38 0
ODIs 178 166 21 5281 150 36.42 7589 69.58 3 35 453 39 54 0
Bowling averages
class mat balls runs wkts bbi bbm ave econ sr 4 5 10
Tests 91 1560 769 8 1/2 1/2 96.12 2.95 195.00 0 0 0
ODIs 178 716 617 14 3/18 3/18 44.07 5.17 51.14 0 0 0