Earning Respect, The Viv Richards Way

Sir Isaac Vivian ('Viv') Alexander Richards was distraught as we discussed, into the early hours of Friday, the whys and wherefore of the decline of West Indies cricket from Olympian heights to Stygian depths.

Viv lamented the lack of discipline and application in the present squad. "What the lads need to do is earn respect, he told me. Respect is precisely what the West Indies batsmen played for yesterday. And earned abundantly, one might add.

On Thursday night, West Indies players, including Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, had attended a fund raising dinner organised by the resuscitated Indian Cricket Players? Association.

But from the manner in which they batted yesterday while pursuing their score of 446 for five ? for a lead of 88 ? they demonstrated that they were certainly in no mood to dole out any largesse ? or mercy, for that matter ? to their Indian counterparts.

Before commencement of this Test, Chanderpaul, who had taken diksha (spiritual initiation) from Swami Vidyananda in Guyana, prayed at the Bharat Sevashram here and offered floral tributes to Swami Pranabananda.

It seems Swamiji's blessings were showered upon the diminutive Guyanan, who ground the Indian attack into the dust while helping put his side within sight of a possible victory.

Chanderpaul has been the scourge of Indian bowlers. Yesterday's was his fifth century against India (sixth overall) and his first abroad. His average against India is a Bradmanesque 81.42. It is obvious Chanderpaul has no respect for the pretensions of bowlers ? slow or pace ? from the land which his ancestors left by sea some 150 years ago as indentured labourers.

Nevertheless, the left-hander is refreshingly aware of his roots, as was evidenced when he kissed the turf at the Gardens after completing an exceedingly well-deserved century.

Chanderpaul's unbeaten 136 runs, in a knock of true character, have come from 255 deliveries, mostly on the leg side. Statistics from Wisden's 20-20 television programme indicate that approximately 70 per cent of his scoring strokes were on the leg ? and 30 on the off-side.

Chanderpaul is far from being a purist's delight. Nor is he an aesthete's dream-come-true. Gifted with the ability to play late, he is a superlative player of spin bowling. His patience is comparable to that of the Biblical Job, his pugnacity akin to that of legendary pugilist Muhammed Ali.

In his face-saving endeavours, Chanderpaul was gallantly assisted in a sixth-wicket partnership of 191 by Marlon Samuels, who has made a comeback to the West Indies side after a spell in the Styx. His silken touch, as revealed in his unbeaten 89 yesterday, had class emblazoned across it. His exclusion from recent Windies side is, therefore, incomprehensible.

The Indian pace attack looked ragged in the absence of Zaheer Khan. Unfortunately, Ashish Nehra is yet to establish his credentials to take over from Javagal Srinath the mantle of spearhead of the Indian bowling.

Well as they toiled on an unresponsive track. Anil Kumble (one for 150) and Harbhajan Singh (three for 101) may have benefited had they flighted the ball for variation and turn.

On a day in the sun in which Indian fieldsmen did little of note, wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel's performance was outstanding. The diving catch he held to dismiss Carl Hooper would have done credit to the very best in the business. It can now be said that the cherubic 17-year old 'keeper-batsman has arrived.

Wavell Hinds, centurion in this Test, and Chris Gayle, who missed his 100 by 12 runs, have revealed tremendous potential.

After the return to the side of injured Brian Lara, captain Carl Hooper, along with Chanderpaul, Samuels and Ramnaresh Sarwan would make for a formidable batting line-up.

In the bowling department, Mervyn Dillon is improving with experience. Hopefully the lessons learnt during this tour should stand promising pace bowlers Jermaine Lawson and David Powell in good stead.

This is predicated on many ifs and buts, but, other things being equal, this cricketing bunch from the Caribbean may, yet, earn the kind of respect that Viv Richards, their legendary chief of selectors, expects of them.

* SOURCE: Midday Sports.