By Brandon Corlette
Guyanese Tagenarine Chanderpaul is set to open the batting with West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite in Australia next month. Moments after his selection was made public, the 26-year-old Chanderpaul said playing for the West Indies was a childhood dream.
The left-hander explained that the key to success was to get acclimatised and sticking to his solid game plan. Chanderpaul said: “Obviously excited to get the call. It’s been a childhood dream to play for the West Indies.”
Australia is no easy place to debut, but young Chanderpaul is up for the challenge. “I think as always, you try to see off the new ball but when you get in, you just try to make the best use of it. Hopefully get a few practice sessions in to get accustomed to the pitches and try to get in and get some scores,” he said.
Chanderpaul, who scored a fine century against Bangladesh A earlier this year and dominated the final three rounds of the Regional Four-Day, relished those experiences. He said playing against Bangladesh was good as he got to mix around international players and scored. “… it was nice to play with some international players in the Bangladesh A series and get runs against them.”
The solid left-handed opener – who has 50 First-Class matches under his belt, with five centuries and 10 half-centuries, also credited his grandfather, who was the man behind his training sessions at home. “Growing up my grandfather was the one who would practice me at home, take me to practice and games, so I credit it to him and I’m sure he is happy,” Chanderpaul said.
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies (CWI) Lead Selector Desmond Haynes said Chanderpaul has what it takes to do well in Australia. “We have one newcomer to the team in Tagenarine Chanderpaul. He acquitted himself very well in the West Indies Championship four-day matches and also did a very good job at the top of the order against Bangladesh A in Saint Lucia this summer. He has what it takes to do well at the highest level.” Haynes added.
