Captain Shiv Gets T&T Support

Shivnarine's Chanderpaul retention as captain of the West Indies team for the rest of the Digicel series against South Africa and Pakistan was yesterday applauded by a number of former West Indies stars.

Former West Indies wicket-keeper Deryck Murray said that Chanderpaul filled the breach admirably and the fact that the team performed well against all odds meant that it would have been unfair to remove him.

?When Brian (Lara) did not accept the invitation to be part of the squad in the first instance, he disqualified himself from the captaincy. Now he is coming back to a team that is stronger and I am sure he will give his best.?

Former West Indies opener Bryan Davis said he was also in total agreement with the decision. He said the players in the first Test fought together as a unit and played the game with the spirit in which is was meant to be played.

?Chanderpaul did all that he could be asked to do in very difficult circumstances and approached the job with a fervour and enthusiasm, which allowed him to lead his men in the positive manner required to lift their game and to compete as befit an international sporting unit,? Davis stated.

He said previous skipper Lara was a losing captain for far too long. ?He has grown accustomed to losing, which is always a bad influence on himself and the rest of the team.?

Davis said that if Chanderpaul gets the full support of the previously discarded quartet, the team can go on from strength to strength.

?The proper team spirit, extra effort, the motivation and competence of a new coaching staff, can all assist the new leader and his players to a much needed high-class series performance, so that whether win or lose, we ought to be regarded once more in the high esteem of opposing teams. I?m sure the men from South Africa will not be underrating us again,? Davis added.

Another former West Indies opening batsman, Andy Ganteaume was adamant that Chanderpaul should not have been replaced. ?I do not think that anyone could have expected the West Indies to perform to the extent that they did. And one must give some credit to the captain.?

Ganteaume said while he thought Chanderpaul could have been a bit more attacking, he was not going to hold that against him. ?Things went well for the team and we can only hope that it will continue to improve.?

Suruj Ragoonath, another former West Indies opening batsman said that under the prevailing circumstances, the West Indies Cricket Board may not have had much of a choice to appoint Chanderpaul.

?However, given the fact that the team performed well in Guyana, it is a good move, which will surely pay rich dividends later on in the series,? Ragoonath stated.

The second Test begins at the Queen?s Park Oval on Friday.