BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Veteran batsman Shiv Chanderpaul has praised rookie Kirk Edwards for helping him to his 23rd Test century in the third and final Test against India last Sunday.
Chanderpaul hit a typically obdurate, unbeaten 116 to help West Indies force a draw on the final day at Windsor Park.
The century also broke a run of patchy form that had seen the left-hander with scores of 37, 12, 23, 30, 27 and 36 not out in his previous Test innings.
“I had a discussion with Kirk and we were talking about the 20s and the 30s [I had been scoring previously],” Chanderpaul said. “He told me to put that behind and we worked towards the team goals which was building big partnerships and pulling the team out of the trouble we were in.”
Edwards, coincidentally, also carved out a fine 110 in his debut Test to announce himself on the international scene.
Coming to the crease with West Indies in trouble at 40 for three, the right-hander emerged from an unconvincing start to stroke his way to three figures, in a crucial 161-run, fourth wicket stand with Chanderpaul.
“Kirk on the debut? Oh man, he batted brilliantly! He took the challenge to Harbhajan (Singh) and that helped us a lot. He was not afraid to take the attack to the bowlers,” Chanderpaul recalled.
“He was positive and had the right mindset. He was not afraid. He played it his way and did what he knows and what he does best.
“It was a great effort for someone to come in under so much pressure and play the way he did.”
