"Cricket is a simple game, don't complicate it"
These are words of all the coaches from Barbados to Eden Gardens to the Lords. The level of coaching might differ from international stars to small cricket enthusiastic kids, but the words remain the same.
Further more, all of them are advised that 'One Ball at a time', 'Play every ball on it merit'. All these sounds so simple & achievable, but yet most of the players strive to achieve that.
Patience surely is a virtue but possessed by very few. Shivnarine Chanderpaul can surely take pride in being one amongst those few. He is known for his unorthodox front-on batting stance, doggedness and ability to stick on the wicket for long hours. Serene, Calm & composed approach, makes us think that he is on some other planet altogether. Chanders who made his debut in 1994, has never looked behind, taking it ball by ball to 2011.
Come 2011, India tour of Carribean. The host already have been marred with controversy of not including Chris Gayle. Chanders & Sarwan are only the two senior pros in the team expected to carry the burden of the team and salvage pride if not win.
Chanderpaul is at that stage of his career where
1) He is not amongst the runs. Needs to prove a point to himself
2) Need to prove his place in the side to the selectors
3) Defying his age
4) Leading the team batting from the front
5) Fighting the Board & politics
6) Answering Media
Now he would like to ask his Coach who once advised him 'Cricket is a Simple Game'. That is Cricket really a simple game.
Chanderpaul's approach towards batting might not seem to have changed drastically. But it is certainly not enjoyable any more. In fact to be candid, 'Not enjoyable' is an Euphemism for 'Pain Staking' here. Even the WI crowd gives a thumbs down to his batting. Cricket analyst might believe that it requires grit & determination to hang in there, leave the good balls and wait for the ones. But the wait is getting painful and amidst the hope of things turning around a good ball does him, and the fight with himself gets all the more painful.
Harsha Bhogle wrote 'Dravid's flame still burns' in his article http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/520481.html but for Chanderpaul it will the ash is hoping the wind to reignite fire. Many questions will be raised after the series.
How much more should he hang in there?
Is it the right time to retire?
More importantly,
Will the Fire ever Reignite???
