MUMBAI, India, CMC– West Indies captain Darren Sammy has applauded the role played by veteran middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul in bolstering the team, especially during shaky innings, on the eve of a major hall mark for the Guyanese cricketer.
Chanderpaul is set to become the first West Indies player to appear in 150 Tests, and the seventh player to achieve the landmark when West Indies play India in the second test midnight tonight East Caribbean Time.
“He is really ‘the lion’ of this team and has carried our batting for a number of years now,” said Sammy.
“He helps out the younger players like Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo and they can take inspiration from a player like him”.
Chanderpaul, aged 39, made his Test debut 19 years ago on home soil at Bourda Oval in the Guyana capital of Georgetown.
He was the 204th player to wear the maroon cap of the Windies.
Sammy said it was an honour to play alongside “Tiger”, as he is universally affectionately known.
“The great thing about him is his approach to batting. From the time I have come into the team, his methods of preparation have always been the same,” said Sammy.
“He spends hours batting in the nets. He will be the first one in and usually the last one out – and it shows in the way he goes about his business”.
Chanderpaul’s milestone is expected to be overshadowed by the excitement and emotions surrounding Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian cricket icon who will be playing an unprecedented 200th and final Test for his homeland on familiar territory at the Wankhede Stadium.
Nonetheless, Sammy believes Chanderpaul’s mental toughness should be emulated by young cricketers in particular.
“As a young player, if you want to display that mental toughness, Chanderpaul is the perfect role model for that,” he said.
“Hopefully, he will be around the dressing room for a little while longer. He still looks in good physical shape and he is still playing well.”