“I don’t think Shivnarine Chanderpaul has proven in recent times that he is still a good enough player to be playing for West Indies”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Legendary West Indies pace bowler Michael Holding has supported chief selector Clive Lloyd’s decision to drop veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the upcoming Test series against Australia.
While batting great Brian Lara feels that Chanderpaul deserves a farewell series after having represented the West Indies for 21 years, Holding believes that the 40-year-old’s 16.64 average over his last 11 innings doesn’t warrant it.
“I don’t believe that cricketers should just get a series for getting a series sake. I don’t think Shivnarine Chanderpaul has proven in recent times that he is still a good enough player to be playing for West Indies,” Holding told ESPNcricinfo. “He has done yeoman service for over two decades. West Indies should be happy to have had him playing for them for that long. All good things have to come to an end.
“I saw him play against South Africa recently and he certainly did not look like the Shivnarine Chanderpaul that I was accustomed to seeing. He was a little bit slow with his reactions to the fast bowlers and we know what Australia are going to be bringing.”
Holding also agreed with Lloyd’s views about calling up youngsters to fill the void that will be left behind by Chanderpaul when he retires.
“Chanderpaul has to make way for someone younger,” he said. “The person that comes in obviously is not going to fill Chanderpaul’s shoes immediately. He has done so much good work for West Indies. But it is time for someone younger than him who can grow into those shoes.”
Even though Lara is disgusted with the way the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are treating one of their longest serving players, Holding pointed out that he had “no problems” with the way the board was handling the situation.
“From what I have heard I don’t think anybody can complain. From what I heard they called him, had a meeting with him. They told him exactly what they would like to do and I have no problems with that,” Holding said. “I don’t think Chanderpaul is ever going to be one to say, ‘listen, my time has come and I have to move on’. So they have done the right thing.”
When asked about the legacy that will be left behind by Chanderpaul, Holding said: “Chanderpaul’s legacy will be someone who went and played for West Indies and gave his all for a very long time. To show everyone that if you can go out and work hard, if you have deficiencies in technique and you work hard enough, you can produce the goods.”