West Indies sweat over Chaderpaul's injury by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

West Indies in New Zealand 2008/09

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DateLine: 2nd January 2009

 

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies batsman, could miss the second ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday with a hand injury. He sat out the first rain-ruined ODI of the five against New Zealand on New Year's Eve as he was being treated for discomfort between thumb and forefinger in his left hand. Virgil Browne, the team's physiotherapist, has been treating it daily and an assessment on when Chanderpaul can play will be made on the morning of the match.

 

His absence leaves a huge hole, either in the middle order, or as Chris Gayle's opening partner, where he has been so effective in the past. With 7,719 runs, nine hundreds and an average of 40.84 in 238 ODIs, Chanderpaul is irreplaceable in a batting line-up of severely limited experience and quality. His 13 ODIs last year - against South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan - brought him 578 runs at an average of 64.22. His second most recent innings was an unbeaten 107 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in November in a losing cause. His absence places additional pressure on captain Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan at the top of the order. They are the only batsmen in the squad with more than 30 ODIs, the only ones who have hundreds to their name apart from Xavier Marshall's 157 not out against Canada, an associate ICC team, in Toronto in August.

 

Nash proved his worth in his vital innings in the Tests, and is much of a grafter suited to the five day game format. Sewnarine Chattergoon has yet to put together a significant innings since introduced as the latest in the long line of opening batsman last season in the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia this year. Xavier Marshall is more likely to be retained for the forthcoming series against England in the Caribbean, either as Gayle's opening partner or separating Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the middle order. But runs in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand will boost his confidence. Shawn

 

Findlay who, given his modest record for Jamaica, was a surprise choice when included in the ODI series against Australia, is an electric outfielder but seems out of his depth at this level in his primary role as left-hand batsman. Carlton Baugh has almost had the last of his many chances as wicketkeeper-batsman. It is a position that Denesh Ramdin appeared to have claimed as his own until his batting declined so markedly that it allowed Baugh to return. Runs over the coming five matches are important for his status.

 

Kieron Pollard's star has pitched since his sensational entry into first-class cricket two seasons ago when his six-hitting put spectators in danger and embarrassed bowlers. His boundary-filled hundreds against Barbados and the Leeward Islands earned him a place in the World Cup squad but he has found runs, far less sixes, hard to come by since then. Still, he is only 20, massively built and powerful and clearly talented.

 

Darren Sammy, perhaps not as dynamic but an honest and intelligent all-rounder already with a taste of Test and ODI success, is an alternative not far away from a recall.

 

After six years, 32 Tests and 50 ODIs, Daren Powell is surely on his way out. He is an enthusiastic competitor but it is an extravagance to pay 46 runs a wicket in Tests as he does. Only a cupboard bare of fast bowlers and the strange selectorial reservations about spinners have kept him going.

 

Lionel Baker, is the first new fast bowler since Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul five years ago. The first two now lead the attack, Rampaul has been so unlucky with injuries his prospects are doubtful.

 

The door is open for the new crop, as it always is with West Indies selectors. Baker has been ushered through it but it will take time to establish whether his stay will be permanent. Suleiman Benn and Nikita Miller, two left-armers of different heights and methods, are the latest spinners on the roller coaster.

 

There were three whitewashes in 2008 - 5-0 to South Africa and Australia, 3-0 to Pakistan - against a 2-0 triumph over Sri Lanka and 3-0 in the Toronto tournament involving Bermuda and Canada.

 

It is a shocking record. The first four ODIs of 2009 follow over the coming two weeks. Chanderpaul's continuing absence would not bode well for an immediate improvement on 2008.