Chanderpaul: Always the Bridesmaid

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride; a saying especially applicable to Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

His career-best 140 in the first Test against India at Bourda represented a welcome return to form for the Guyanese left-hander in front of his adoring home fans. But, as is the case so often for the man they call 'Tiger', he was merely the supporting act.

Windies skipper Carl Hooper's scintillating 233 deservedly dominated the headlines, and eclipsed the efforts of his batting partner, as they added 293 runs for the fifth wicket.

But Chanderpaul is used to playing second-fiddle to brasher, more glamorous batsmen.

Back in 1994 in the fifth Test against England in Antigua it was Chanderpaul who supported and encouraged Brian Lara on his way to a world-record 375.

Lara's innings will never be forgotten but it owed much to the less-heralded 75 not out of Chanderpaul who anchored the innings for four hours to see his friend through to the landmark.

More recently, Chanderpaul has selflessly moved up and down the order to accomodate the introduction of new batting stars like Ramnaresh Sarwan and Wavell Hinds.

There is nothing aesthetically pleasing about Chanderpaul's batting, and this perhaps explains why he is sometimes underestimated by opposition and observers alike.

His unorthodox style, bandy-legged stance, and loose wrists, owe little to the training manual, and more to the Jack Russell school of batting.

But Chanderpaul is one of the Windies most consistent and reliable performers.

A Test average of just under 40 is testament to a player whose grit and determination more than makes up for a lack of style.

His technique is based around a sound defence, and intense concentration, but he has driven bowlers to the point of distraction with his ability to nudge and flick the ball to all corners of the ground.

Chanderpaul's arrival on the international stage was dramatic; thrust into the Test team against England at Georgetown in 1994 while still a teenager, he justified his selection with 62.

Scores of 50, 77 and 75 not out followed in the same series, and he soon became an integral member of the Windies line-up, providing some much-needed stability to their batting order.

An unbeaten 137 against India in 1997 was followed up a year later by 118 against England at Georgetown.

Chanderpaul also has a successful one-day record, with an average of 35, and two centuries to his name. But in recent times he has struggled with both form and fitness, and has found himself in and out of the international team, missing 17 Tests in the last three years.

In the summer of 2000 he was forced to abandon the Windies tour of England, after being plagued by a tendon problem in his right elbow, and missed four Tests.

Later that year on the tour to Australia, he succumbed to injury again, suffering a stress fracture in his left leg prior to the second Test in Perth.

And late last year, he had to sit our of the tour of Sri Lanka because of back spasms. These injuries have naturally had an impact on Chanderpaul's form, and before Saturday's 140 against India he had scored just 196 in his previous five Tests.

But, with his injury problems apparently behind him, a priority will now be to convert more of his good starts into decent scores.

His innings at Bourda was only the third time he had passed a hundred, despite 23 half-centuries.

Despite being just 27, Chanderpaul is one of the most experienced and senior members of a relatively young West Indian team.

Hooper's men have lost their last five Tests, and Chanderpaul will play a vital role in their attempts to reverse this run of poor results.

It is now crucial, not only for him, but for the fortunes of West Indian cricket, that he makes up for lost time and continues his personal revival.

* SOURCE: BBC Sports Online