Sarwan's Dubious Distinction

Does the name Chetandra Pratap Singh Chauhan ring a bell? No? What about Shane Warne? It does, but....! Don't worry, I'll tell you a few quick things about them, and get on with my article.

Chetandra Pratap Singh Chauhan, or Chetan Chauhan as he is more familiarly known, a former Indian opening batsman, is the world record holder for the most 50s in a career without a century. He made a total of 16 half-centuries without reaching the coveted three-figure mark, and was at one time the only Test cricketer in history to aggregate over 2000 runs in Tests without getting a hundred. His career ended after 40 Tests; 68 innings, an aggregate of 2084 runs; highest score of 97; and an average of 31.57.

For the record, Zimbabwe's Alistair Campbell briefly held the dubious distinction when he passed Chauhan's 2,084, but eventually rid himself of the unwanted 'tag'.

And then there is Shane Warne, the great Australian leg-spin bowler, who has taken 477 Test wickets and is bearing down rapidly, on our Courtney Walsh's record of 519 wickets. Warne fancies himself with the bat also, and -- of relevance -- has taken over the record of highest aggregate without a century from Chauhan. He (Warne) has scored 2,121 runs to date, with a highest score of 99!

These "behind the scenes" statistics would have been of little interest to me, had I not been perusing the records to see where Ramnaresh Sarwan stood with regard to futility in century-making; from a historical perspective.

I knew that Shane Warne was heading the list with just over 2,000 runs, and I recalled Sarwan recently passing 1,500. So it was possible, I assumed, that Sarwan might be in some rare company. And, whether he likes it or not, he certainly is.

Sarwan's 1,571 career runs, stands sixth on the "Most Runs In a Test Career Without a Century" list, behind Shane Warne (2,121), Chetan Chauhan (2,084), Deryck Murray (1,993), Malcolm Marshall (1,810), and John Emburey (1,713). Of the first five, only Warne is still playing, which places Sarwan second among active cricketers, and emphatically, first, for 'frontline batsmen'.

The next three for 'actives' are like Warne, primarily bowlers: Zimbabwe's Heath Streak (1,429), Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas (1403) and India's Anil Kumble (1,380).

When I looked at the list on November 2, it had 35 names and consisted of mostly wicketkeepers, bowlers and all rounders. It can't be the kind of company Sarwan cares to mingle with for much longer. His average is hovering between 35 and 38, and ranks in the "top 30" in the all-time West Indies averages to this point. There must be some significance to this.

As if the 'no century' stats weren't stunning enough, I stumbled upon an equally startling fact. I mentioned earlier that Chauhan, with 16 half-centuries, holds the record for the most 50s in a career without a century. Guess who's next in line? Yes, Ramnaresh Sarwan with 14! Three half-centuries away from what could become an odd record indeed, for one so talented. That of course if he never, God forbid, reaches a century!

I don't know if I'm making too much of this. I might be. All those miscellaneous statistics might be totally irrelevant, and Sarwan's consistency and 'decent' average, are what really matter when the selectors convene. But, in my own limited way, I'm beginning to think that the niggling doubts are becoming critical setbacks for him, mentally.

Quite frankly, I don't care how good you are, prolonged futility in any pursuit 'short-circuits' your brain. I mentioned in my last column that, "The brain is a highly sensitive organ, which if not adequately preconditioned, or fed with positive thoughts, challenges, and specific goals, could go awry. An inability to surmount a particular obstacle, for instance, can produce what I refer to as a total brain lock".

In that same article, I opined: "Marlon Samuels, another very talented player, but one without a first class hundred to his name; will also need to put that bugbear issue behind him. It is extremely difficult for the selectors to continue justifying his selection without favourable statistics".

Guess what? Samuels has done just that. He has put the bugbear behind him with a brilliant knock. A point of note. It is his 13th Test and was his 23rd inning. Congratulations Marlon! The inimitable batting maestro Rohan Kanhai also got his maiden century in his 13th Test, a magnificent 256 at the same venue, the splendid Eden Gardens. It was his 24th innings. True. It took the great Garfield Sobers -- now Sir Garfield -- all of 17 Tests and 29 innings, to 'break the chains'. To his credit, he responded with a world record 365, as his maiden century, and five other centuries in his next nine innings.

It is amazing what your first century can do for your confidence. No one can downplay that. I also recall Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who interestingly enough had 13 half-centuries prior to his breakthrough, being described in the initial stages of his career, as reliable. It was interesting to note, at the time of his maiden hundred in his 19th Test match, and 30th inning, how the magnifying glasses of the critics were beginning to surface in abundance; the experts were beginning to question, and some of his admirers, were beginning to doubt.

Later in his career, Chanderpaul suffered similar scrutiny. His fitness, and I suspect the absence of centuries, were taking their toll. As recent as the Indian tour of the West Indies, said of Chanderpaul, "His failure to convert so many half-centuries, seems to be weighing heavily on him; of 25 innings over 50 in his 51 Tests to date, only twice has he reached three figures. Reliability and dependability were adjectives which appropriately described him in the past, those attributes will have to be revisited for this obviously talented player to re-elevate his status in the world ranking, and save his average which has dropped to 38.60, having been comfortably in the mid-40s for some time".

Well, Shiv answered the call.

Reliability and dependability were revisited, and they brought along confidence. It was a mind game, and he won it. His admirable mental toughness was the key. Nine tests have been played since I questioned his pedigree; he's added 4 centuries, 5 half-centuries , his average is back in the mid-40's and he has climbed in the world ranking. I admire Chanderpaul's tenacity, toughness and indomitable will. Big boys don't cry. That's the stuff superstars are made of. They stand and deliver!

For me, Sarwan does not appear to be as mentally tough as Chanderpaul and my concern for his case stems from the fact that we're not talking about 13, 17 or 19 Tests. We're not talking 23 or 30 innings. Sarwan's career is now 27 Tests (inclusive of this incomplete 3rd Test against India) and a staggering 48 innings to date. As a frontline batsman, specifically the number three for the West Indies, it must be crossing his mind that possibly every other team's "first down", has a century to his name.

There are those who might ask, "What's all the big fuss over a century?". I suppose their argument will be that 'lightweights' like Junior Murray have got a century, and he can't even carry Sarwan's luggage. It doesn't matter. A century is a century. I personally think of it as a mark of distinction.

Sunil Gavaskar, and those who aspire to reach his lofty heights, will never make light of the importance of centuries. It matters not who you are, as a top-class batsman, your curriculum vitae needs them. A brilliant ninety-nine is somehow forgotten quicker than a shaky or 'ugly' hundred. I once heard Geoffrey Boycott say that great batsmen are those whose centuries to Test matches ratio, stand at one century to every five tests or less. I'll go with that when I look at the quality of the batsmen who have achieved that, or close to it in their careers.

The fact of the matter is; it's getting lonelier by the Test for Ramnaresh Sarwan. Marlon Samuels jumped ship yesterday; his only company now, is the non-playing Chief Mate, Daren Ganga.

My advice to you, young Sarwan. "Get off the boat in Bangladesh, son, it won't get any easier!"