Ambitious Derbyshire sign Chanderpaul

By Andy Wilson

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the world number two Test batsman, has signed for LV County Championship Division One newcomers Derbyshire. He has agreed a two-year deal with an option for a third.

Recruiting Chanderpaul is a huge coup for the newly-promoted club and a statement of ambition from a county that will be most people’s favourites to go straight back down to Division Two in 2013.

When he took over as chairman in April 2011, Chris Grant identified making a “landmark signing” as part of his vision for the future and now he has one. At the age of 38, the left-handed former West Indies captain remains one of the most prized wickets in Test cricket.

“We have recruited a world-class player at the peak of his game and I hope this sends a message to our members and supporters that we mean business ahead of the 2013 season,” said Grant. “The fact that Derbyshire are able to attract someone of his calibre is an indication of our ambition and the esteem in which the club is now held in the cricketing world.”

Chanderpaul has played 146 Tests and 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. He sits ninth in the all-time list. His 27th Test century came in his last appearance for the West Indies, in November, when he hit an unbeaten 150 in Bangladesh, having made 203 not out in the only other Test of the series.

On top of his form for the West Indies last summer in England, when he averaged 78.33 in the two Tests he played, the prolific Chanderpaul sits second, behind Australian captain Michael Clarke, in the current Test world rankings. In all, the Guyanese has 64 first-class centuries to his name, including a best of 303 not out against Jamaica, and nine of those tons have come in county cricket.

His latest spell was with Warwickshire in 2011, when he played five County Championship matches and averaged 89.83. Chanderpaul averaged 58.26 in three spells with Durham between 2007-09 and 53.69 with Lancashire in 2010.

Though he has not been part of the West Indies’ plans in the one-day game since the 2011 World Cup, he has 11 one-day international centuries to his name and has scored at just under a run a ball in 22 t20 internationals. “Shivnarine’s statistics in all forms of the game speak for themselves and he has been one of the stand-out players on the world stage for a long time,” said Derbyshre head coach Karl Krikken.

“He knows what it takes to be successful and, as well as his outstanding ability with the bat, there is no doubt Shivnarine will have a hugely positive effect on our talented young squad as we embark on the challenge of Division One cricket.”

With no Test series scheduled for the West Indies between the end of March and the beginning of November, Chanderpaul should available for the full English season and will play in all forms of the game.



Date: 09/01/2013 11:06:00 by Andy Wilson
In: Today | Derbyshire |