Chanderpaul Scores A+ Retainer Grade

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara are the only two West Indies cricketers to score an A+ grade for annual retainer contracts being offered by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Lara's A+ grade is a no-brainer but a source close to the WICB said Chanderpaul's rating was the subject of a bitter debate between the board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA). The WICB insisted that a player must have a world record to qualify for an A+ rating but WIPA argued strongly that Chanderpaul's longevity -- and value to the team -- in both forms of the game, should put him on the same level as Lara.

According to information reaching CaribbeanCricket.com, the ten players selected to receive retainers were divided into four rankings -- A+, A, B and C -- to determine the different pay scales. The grades were based on longevity, value in Tests and ODIs, recent performance, commitment and other criteria agreed upon between the board and WIPA.

The grades, in some cases, are surprising. For example, Corey Collymore is graded 'A'despite only playing in 23 Tests and having a history of injuries. The two other 'A' grade players are vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and opener Chris Gayle.

Daren Ganga, who was not in the original list of eight players identified by the West Indies selection panel, is offered a 'B' grade contract, the same as Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.

Runako Morton is the only 'C' ranked player in the ten-man list.

The absence of a retainer contract for Jamaican fast bowler Jerome Taylor has set the cat among the pigeons in the WICB's cricket committee and the matter is expected to be discussed at a board meeting on October 19.

A+ RATED PLAYERS:

Brian Lara
128 Tests, 11505 runs, avg. 52.05, HS 400*, 32 centuries
278 ODIs, 9858 runs, avg. 41.24 , HS 169, 19 centuries

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
98 Tests, 6531 runs, avg. 44.73, HS 203*, 14 centuries
199 ODIs, 5920 runs, avg 36.31, HS 150, 3 centuries

A RATED PLAYERS:

Ramnaresh Sarwan
63 Tests, 4207 runs, avg. 39.31, HS 261*, 9 centuries
110 ODIs, 3587 runs, avg. 45.40, HS 115*, 3 centuries

Chris Gayle
61 Tests, 4079 runs, avg. 38.84, HS 317, 7 centuries
146 ODIs, 5247 runs, avg. 38.86, HS 153*, 13 centuries

Corey Collymore
23 Tests, 75 wickets, BB 7/57, avg. 29.58
72 ODIs, 72 wickets, BB 5/51, avg. 34.83

B RATED PLAYERS:

Fidel Edwards
24 Tests, 62 wickets, BB 5/36, avg. 43.14
22 ODIs, 26 wickets, BB 6/22, avg. 30.11

Dwayne Bravo - (all-rounder)
Batting -- 16 Tests, 956 runs, HS 113, avg. 32.96, 2 centuries
Bowling -- 16 Tests, 36 wickets, BB 6/55, avg. 35.97
Batting -- 51 ODIs, 576 runs, HS 62*, avg. 21.33, 0 centuries
Bowling -- 51 ODIs, 52 wickets, BB 3/14, avg. 32.75

Daren Ganga
38 Tests, 1765 runs, HS 135, avg. 26.74, 3 centuries
33 ODIs, 802 runs, HS 71, avg. 25.87, 0 centuries

Denesh Ramdin - (wicket-keeper)
12 Tests, 478 runs, HS 71, avg. 26.55, 0 centuries, 29 dismissals
14 ODIs, 264 runs, HS 74*, avg. 33.00, 0 centuries, 17 dismissals< br />

C RATED PLAYER:

Runako Morton
4 Tests, 193 runs, HS 70*, avg. 32.16, 0 centuries
22 ODIs, 683 runs, HS 110*, avg. 34.15, 2 centuries