Star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul 'will bring crowds to County Ground'
THE signing of one of the world's greatest batsmen is a great catch for Derbyshire, according to the city's West Indian community.
Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has agreed a two-year deal with the county club from this year, becoming the landmark signing chairman Chris Grant had promised.
Chanderpaul, currently second in the ICC Test rankings, is one of the most admired and respected batsmen currently playing, with a prolific scoring record.
George Mighty, chairman and founder of the Derby West Indian Community Association, thought the signing of the 38-year-old Guyanan would bring enthusiastic fans to the city.
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The 76-year-old said: "Cricket is the national sport of the West Indies. If you look at it, it's the only thing that keeps the place together.
"All the different countries come together behind the team and it unites us. So there is a huge following of the West Indian team and Chanderpaul is a big name, he is a hero to many people. He is a wonderful player."
Chanderpaul is known for his ability to hold on to his wicket, and is one of only six players to have gone 1,000 minutes in Test cricket without getting out.
A tally of 10,696 Test runs, at an average of just under 43, puts him in exclusive company as one of only 11 batsmen to pass the 10,000 mark. Chanderpaul sits eighth in the all-time list.
He is also the most capped Test player in West Indian cricket history as he has now played in 140 Test Matches.
Mr Mighty said: "I myself have been to see the team many times, at Headingley and Leeds and I am a big cricket fan.
"To have someone as popular and successful as Chanderpaul here, regularly in Derbyshire, is a big boost for the community here.
"I know a lot of the West Indians in Derby will be going to see him and I am certain it will bring a lot of new people to the city, people who follow Chanderpaul around. He has a strong following.
Mr Mighty recalled when Jamaican-born bowler Devon Malcolm played for Derbyshire – and England – in the 1980s and 1990s.
"That did the same thing," he said. "Devon brought a lot of people to Derby and it will be exciting to see what happens when Chanderpaul starts to play."
Comments
by Pduffy
Thursday, April 04 2013, 11:25PM
“Hello. I think you'll find Chanderpaul's average is a shade over 50. And he's the 8th highest scoring batsman of all time. He will break records for Derbyshire, that is a certainty.”
by make_redgreen
Thursday, January 10 2013, 8:49PM
“Hmmm, I sort of agree, he's a great player.
However, sticking Derby's cricket pitch on the end of Chad was probably not the best of moves as it's mainly just used as a summer getaway for boozy footy fans (I'd love to see the accounts and how much %age of the total revenue is derived from the now annual Derby v Notts 20x20).
Also, I don't think as a nation we're geared up for cricket anymore - it takes a whole day to watch a game if it's not a T20! Or even days! Though I don't blame that on cricket, I'd prefer the UK work culture adapt to allow someone to enjoy a test match rather than cramming every sport into a few hour or less quick relief personal enjoyment time!”