linkAmid the afternoon's inactivity at Old Trafford yesterday - one colleague even suggested a game of press-box cricket - one very pleasant ceremony took place in the library during the afternoon when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was awarded his county cap.
The Guyanan has scored 698 runs at an average of 58.16 in seven first-class games for Lancashire. He has passed fifty seven times in 13 innings. But as Peter Moores pointed out, his influence has extended beyond statistics. "Shiv is a very gentle man, but is a craftsman as a batsman,” said the Lancashire coach. “We had VVS Laxman last year and Shiv this year, and they are both of the same ilk, both great blokes to have around.
“Shiv will have the bowling machine up at 85mph in the nets and will show you his craft, he will work the ball around brilliantly. For anyone to watch the rhythm he has and the skill he plays with and the sheer enjoyment he gets from deploying that skill, if it doesn’t excite you then you don’t love the game.
“To watch him bat and to hear him talk about how to wear a bowler down, how to sit in when needed and how to protect your off-stump is superb. There is fantastic knowledge there which he is happy to share because he loves the game.
“He is an example of overseas players adding something to the club as a whole. We have young cricketers in the dressing room and they have learnt a lot from Shiv and he is hungry. He is the first person in the nets every day.
“The cap is fitting reward because even though he has only been here a short time, he has been totally committed and that is all you can ever ask from an overseas player."
Congrats to the Great Man!
