To start
with, Shiv always happened to be the odd man out. In a team dominated by brawn
and brash, Shiv was all about brain and finesse. In a team characterised with
cranky hair cuts, Shiv came across as a cricketer with the Mr. Perfect look. While most of his compatriots were as tall as
an Oak tree, Shiv was diminutive measuring 1.73m. While his teammates had a
fantasy for fancy goggles, Shiv preferred a ‘cheek’y anti-glare strips under
his eyes.
The biggest
difference between Shiv and the rest was obviously his unique stance.
And he batted, batted and batted….
Probably
Chanderpaul took a cue out of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s words when it comes to batting
in the middle: ‘Men may come and men may
go, But I go on forever’.. And he batted batted and batted……
Ask the
English bowlers of the last decade. By now they know the width, weight and edge
of Shiv’s blade much better than the man himself. Thank god, English were the lawmakers
of the game. For they had predicted a phenomenon termed ‘Shiv’ and ruled out
the possibility of the last man playing alone!
But the
Aussies are aware of the Chanderpaul who can score hurricane hundreds. And the
Indians know, get Chanderpaul and you are half way through the Windies.
Like Sachin-Dravid
for India, it was always Lara-Chanderpaul for West Indies. Lara inflicted
severe pain on the opposition but a dodgy Chanderpaul made the bowlers beg for instant
death rather than slow poison.
While most batsmen
talk about taking it over by over, it was always hours or days with Chanderpaul.
The very sight of him marking his guard with bails would send shivers through
the spine of every fan of the opposition team. Maybe the English crowd knows it better.
The striking
aspect of his career was he was the only one in the Windies scoring runs
consistently ever since Lara’s exit. Shiv wasn’t just making the opposition fall
on their knees with his gritty batting. He was a ruthless finisher in ODIs. Still
Chaminda Vaas would recollect his low full toss sailing over Mahela Jayawardene’s
head over deep mid-wicket for a last ball six. And on numerous occasions he had
seen his team home with the lower middle-order for company.
For a man
who had began his career with the likes of Carl Hooper, Brian Lara, Jimmy
Adams, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, Chanderpaul’s ability to adapt to every
format he had played and cater to the needs of the team successfully despite
the team’s failure makes him a cricketer apart.
Like it has
been with Sachin, Dravid, Laxman and a lot of legends of the game, age has
caught up with Shiv and it is telling on his batting form. The southpaw who
remained largely unbeaten and unconquered seems to be finally dismissed.
The cricketing
world, it seems, will never witness the smiling Guyanese running in from fine
leg to leap tall for a high five with a West Indian bowler again.
