Shiv Chanderpaul: West Indies batsmen need to have a survival mindset

By Brandon Corlette

Legendary West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is currently in Antigua wearing the cap of batting coach with the players involved in the Best v Best Test trial at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, has said
the West Indies batsmen need to have a survival mindset against the Sri Lankans.
The left-hander is, however, confident that the West Indies are equipped with the players to win the three One Day International matches against Sri Lanka.

“We have to be smart and find a way to deal with the Sri Lankan spinners,” he said. “If you can’t read, you still have to fight; you have to find a way to survive and you must have a proper batting plan.” In the three-match T20 series, the West Indies batsmen failed to counter the Sri Lankan spinners. “That is a concern. We need to get something that will give us the advantage, so we need to take Sri Lanka out of the equation by preparing some green tops,” Chanderpaul said on the most recent Mason and Guest radio programme.
Called ‘the Tiger’ in his heyday, Chanderpaul has declared that he is impressed with the work ethic of the players in Antigua, but he said they must put in the work while they are at home.

“I put in the hours hitting thousands of balls at home. I would be on the machine hitting thousands of balls at home; and as a batter you need to improve, but you must know what you are working on. I studied opposition bowlers and try and get as much information from them,” he disclosed.

Chanderpaul has also said he does not have a problem with West Indies players featuring in T20 leagues, since one’s cricketing career is not forever, and there is need for players to make as much as they can.
“I don’t have a problem with that, but you are being paid, you have a retainer contract and you are asked to put in some work, and you should be able to do that. In the past, we had to find our money to get our work done,” Chanderpaul explained.

Looking ahead to the Test series, Chanderpaul has said the West Indies can beat the Sri Lankans if the pitches are green. “We don’t want their spinners to be the major threat for us,” Chanderpaul posited. Sharing his opinion on some of the young pacers in the Caribbean, Chanderpaul disclosed that he has been impressed with the likes of Nial Smith, Chemar Holder and Preston McSween. He noted that Smith is one for the future, but he needs to put in some more strength work; while he noted that young Chemar Holder bowled with some gas and was impressive.

Chanderpaul has said McSween is good with his control, and that is important. “We have talent, but we need to put the ball in the right areas on a consistent basis, and (we need to) practice,” Chanderpaul noted. The 46-year-old, who scored 11,867 Test runs in his career, has been enjoying his role as batting coach as he continues to give back to West Indies cricket.