Thaindian News

Roseau (Dominica), July 7 (IANS) Shivnarine Chanderpaul is delighted to become the most capped Test player in the history of West Indies cricket and says he is still hungry for success.

The 36-year-old former West Indies skipper reached the milestone of 133 Test matches at the start of the third Digicel Test match against India Wednesday — the first Test to be played at Windsor Park.

The champion left-hander surpassed fast bowling great Courtney Walsh, who played in 132 Tests. Third on the West Indies all-time list is another legend Brian Lara, who played 131 Tests.

“This is a milestone I never dreamt of achieving, certainly not when I started playing Test cricket so it is a great honour to achieve this milestone,” said Chanderpaul.

“Throughout my long career I have always enjoyed playing the game and I am passionate about batting. That love and passion are still there and hopefully they will keep me in the game for a bit longer. Even though I am in the last part of my career I still have that hunger for success,” Chanderpaul said Wednesday.

Chanderpaul made his Test debut as a 19-year-old against England in his native Guyana in 1994.

Since his debut, the lean Guyanese has become known for his unflappable temperament and obdurate batting, and has been a linchpin in the regional side’s line up for the last decade.

He has scored 9,228 runs at an average of 48.56 with 22 centuries. He was named the International Cricket Council’s ‘Cricketer of the Year’ in 2008. He was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2008.

“I would like to thank all those people who have helped me along the way to reach so far. I have two major goals now. The first is to help the West Indies team start winning again and the second is to pass on some of my knowledge and experience to the young players to help them improve their game and take West Indies cricket forward,” said Chanderpaul, whose elder son Taignarine plays for Guyana in the under-15 regional tournament.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has congratulated Chanderpaul on the feat.

President of the WICB Julian Hunte, hailed Chanderpaul for his longevity, tenacity, commitment and his amazing ability to accumulate big runs during his 17-year international career.

“On behalf of the Directors of the WICB, the people of the West Indies and cricket lovers worldwide I want to congratulate Shivnarine Chanderpaul for yet another remarkable achievement in his outstanding cricket career for the West Indies. This is a phenomenal achievement and we all salute him,” Hunte said.

“To play 133 Test matches requires a strong mind, a tough body and amazing will-power. The Tiger has demonstrated all this and more during his 17 years of service to the cricket-loving people of the West Indies and all those over the world who adore him.”