Chattergoon: Gayle gave me confidence

Fri, Apr 4, '08

"He has been struggling against Sri Lanka but he is a world class batsman and he can come out anytime and destroy any bowling attack so I was confident going out with him," Chattergoon declared at the end of day two of the Second Digicel Test at the Queen's Park Oval where the home team trail Sri Lanka's 278 by ten runs and they still have three wickets in hand.

"I was a bit nervous (at the start) but the good thing was that I was with my captain and also a senior member and I rallied around him and he told me to relax and play my normal game," explained the reserved Chattergoon.

"I was looking for the single to get down to the non-striker's end and he (Gayle) helped me a lot because he was playing positively and the Sri Lankan bowlers put more emphasis on him than me," Chattergoon said of Gayle who, in eleven innings against the Sri Lankans has only scored one half century and has made five ducks, while falling to swing bowler Chaminda Vaas on seven occasions.

Gayle, who demoted himself from his usual opening slot to number six in the First Digicel Test in Guyana, returned to open the innings with the 27 year old Chattergoon who celebrated his birthday on the first day of his debut Test. The West Indies captain was circumspect in defence against Vaas but was ultra aggressive against the other bowlers as he reached 45 (9x4) from 44 deliveries before getting out with the score on 62.

"This is not the only game that he has been aggressive, he has been playing (like that) throughout his career," said Chattergoon who also fell short of a half century, getting 46 from 78 deliveries.

Chattergoon revealed that he needed to place greater emphasis on Sri Lanka's champion duo of Vaas and world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan who picked up three West Indian wickets as they closed on 268 for 7.

"The two of them are two great bowlers and to get an opportunity to face them in my first Test innings, it was a bit difficult but I played to my ability and I was successful in the end, I paid a bit more emphasis on Muralitharan and Vaas, those two were consistent," Chattergoon explained.

The left hander from Guyana, who missed making his debut on his home ground two weeks ago owing to him contracting a flu-like illness two days before the First Digicel Test said that he never thought that he would play a Test match alongside his two countrymen – Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan – who are also his two favourite batsmen.

"They are my favourite cricketers, it is a great feeling because I never thought I would play a Test match with both of them," Chattergoon said.

He also said that he is thankful to them both for their support and advice over the years, especially Sarwan with whom he is close friends.

"They always talk to me back home, when we play first class cricket (they tell me) when the chance comes (to play Test cricket) just to play to your strengths and know where your weaknesses are," Chattergoon added.

And the little opener said he had been preparing for the Digicel Test Series by reviewing and analysing video footage of the bowlers on his own, especially Vaas prior to the start of the Digicel Test Series and that he realised that he needed to play his shots as late as possible in order to be successful.