Dear Editor,
I have been in Grenada for several days (not for cricket) conducting a survey, but almost everywhere my accent betrays my nationality, and the name of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and cricket quickly replaces a discussion on politics or elections. Grenada holds a national election on July 8. Grenadians love Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chanderpaul. Chanders, as he is called, is respected, praised and admired throughout Grenada by people of all backgrounds. Every Grenadian says he is the most reliable West Indian batsman. And at the hotel where I am encamped, guests refer to the West Indies as a one-man team – “only Chanders can bat,” they would say when poking fun at the team.
As I move around the island with my team of interviewers to supervise a NACTA survey on the elections, I meet people from several islands. I met a Trini whom I was about to interview on how he intends to vote only to hear him say, “You are a Guyanese conducting a survey here.” Eventually the conversation turns to cricket, the reason he was in Grenada. “I get to like your Guyanese man Chanderpaul; he can bat.” And the same kind of language was uttered by other islanders settled in Grenada – St Lucians, St Kittians, and Jamaicans – of Chanderpaul.
The general feeling of West Indies cricket among people around rum shops, bars, the streets and hotels is the West Indian players are complacent and have a major attitude problem.
The players don’t take their cricket seriously and are not playing to their potential. Many of the batsmen throw away their wicket and at times their fielding is sloppy. People feel the batsmen are not disciplined when they bat poorly or behave irresponsibly.
One person told me he saw some of the players up late around 11pm around a bar the night before they played. My taxi driver said the West Indies players went to practise the day before a match and after two hours they were complaining they were tired and left back for the hotel, whereas the Aussies practised a full day and still wanted to remain on the ground to continue practising and exercising. One team has players who are lackadaisical and the other team has players who are self-motivated, disciplined and hard-working. You don’t find Aussies around a bar in the evening when they have to play next day. The Aussies were seen lapping up local Grenadian nutmeg medicines that they were told eased pain – nut rum or ‘ladies.’
The West Indies is the butt of jokes around Grenada and among tourists who came to the spice island to watch competitive cricket. They are disappointed but have decided to move on to St Kitts for the final two one-dayers. Al-though the West Indies is failing, I’m glad people love and respect our Chanders and hope he will remain focused on his cricket and not be influenced by those with deviant behaviour. He is a player committed to his potential and has made encouraging progress while the team fails miserably. Over the years, the man has displayed the kind of grit not seen by any other players in recent times. He has single-handedly taken on powerful opponents. The West Indies is in dire need of good leadership to motivate and influence the youngsters. The team should look to Chanders again if he would be willing to take the job having turned it down before.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
Tigerpaul is the Master.
Unlike the passengers on that team, Shiv is the only man who quietly and resolutely counters the opposition without all the fanfare.
His personal life lacks that ostentatiousness too, and I believe that inflated sense of self, not ability, is what separates the Master from the disciples.
Well, the West Indies team selectors probably believe that there are only about 15-18 people in the whole Caribbean who can play cricket. So they just stick with the slackers who they have already. And since the people in charge feel that way, then the players might as well cop the same attitude and beliefs.
The Caribbean has a lot of talent, but unfortunately, they will never put on the uniform, thanks to the slackers who have the power to select the team. Guyana. Just look around Guyana and you will get enough quality players to make up a quality West Indies team. But, in the sense of brotherhood, you could just throw in a few players here and there from a few of the islands.
Also, the selectors need to be more responsible. They need to have monitors to ensure that the players are doing what they are supposed to –training on time, sleeping on time, eating/drinking properly before a game etc — and if a player messes up, just give him a seat on the bench and put another player on the roster. A player who I’m sure will be hungry for the chance to step onto the field. Someone who will take his training seriously, someone who wants to be on the team more than the slackers we have now.
Once again, a Guyanese is showing the Caribbean how it’s done. And that’s how we all, as Guyanese, must be!
Not –Vishnu Bisram again!— no please !—jumping on every good person bandwagon to fortify his image.
First it was the elder Eusi Kwayana now Chanderpual.
Bisram is the front man propaganda for the PPP and all his methods and methodologies are questionable( i am using the mildest terms to get this comment published)
Mr. Freedie Kissoon has ask Mr. Bisram to publish where he get and how he get his data and how he analyse his data—-so far no answers—-This is a fraudent person making use of the good character of Mr. Kwayana and Chanderpaul.
Please Stabroek News unless Mr. Bisram answers the questions posed by Freddie kissoon—-please –please do not publish anything from Mr. Bisram.
He should be ban from publishing in Stabroek News.
rupert, I have no clue who you or Vishnu Bisram is. And I really don’t care. But the letter dealt with Chanderpaul and his contribution to West Indies cricket, why don’t you take your personal vendetta aside? If you got a problem with this Bisram character, why not engage him in a war of letters?
Anyways, back to the topic. I remember the first time I saw Chanderpaul’s debut on TV, guy was about 19 years old I believe.
I completely agree with Rupert. Why is Bisram writing about Shiv? Everyone knows he is the best batsman in the West Indies. He should instead focus all of his energy into providing answers to Freddie’s questions. Good comment Rupert.
Mr.Bisram is a mouth piece for the PPP.Mr.Bisram please leave TigerPaul alone. Where were you Mr.Bisram when Shiv made his debut in 1994 against England at Bourda and later when Mr.Richie Richardson took the team in England and had Shiv on the bench so that Keith Arthurton can be in the side despite his (Keith) failure to score runs for the West Indies?
Answer that Mr.Bisram.Hint ! the answer is not in Freedom House.
Bisram dodging and weaving from the questions by Freddie!!!
Tells us that he has alot to hide.
Stand up and answer the questions Bisram!!!