'Special' Chanderpaul survives bruising Test entrance

Tagenarine Chanderpaul might once have feared the closest he would get to international cricket would be his cameo playing Larry Gomes in a film about India's 1983 World Cup triumph.

But after finally getting his opportunity after 51 first-class games over the course of almost a decade, Chanderpaul has been tipped to have a long Test career following a bruising but courageous introduction to Test cricket.

After an increasingly dispirited West Indies bowling performance that allowed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to swan to twin double centuries, the visiting openers faced a deficit as imposing as the fresh Australian pace attack tasked with defending it late on Thursday.

But Chanderpaul, heeding the soothing advice of captain Kragg Brathwaite, peppered the Perth Stadium boundary with a flurry of daring strokes having refused to take a backwards step following multiple body blows.

The son of Windies great Shivnarine had reached 47no from 73 balls at stumps to give his side their brightest moment on tour so far.

"I know he's a fighter, so it isn't surprising," Brathwaite told reporters at stumps after he and Chanderpaul had taken the Windies to 0-74.

"I really look forward to seeing a lot for him playing for the West indies. It was good to see but obviously we need to continue tomorrow.

"I wasn't surprised. I knew for a while, playing against him, that he always takes his time and he bats long periods. He's got a bright future for the West Indies.

"He's going to be special. He's going to do a great job. I look forward to batting with him for many years to come."

It had not been the most auspicious of starts to his Test batting career.

After spending 152.4 overs in the field, Chanderpaul was squared up on his first ball of Test cricket as a thick edge off Mitchell Starc flew away through the slips for four. He was away.

His protective gear, which included arm- and chest-guards, got a solid working out. He was fortunate a tight 'umpire's call' lbw review went his way after being struck on the back pad, before copping knocks to his box, chest and stomach by the Aussie pace attack.

Josh Hazelwood's blow that struck Chanderpaul drew a pained reaction but little sympathy. The Windies physio bore a wide grin after trotting out to the middle, shaking the batter's legs while he lay prone seemingly in an attempt to merely distract him from the agony.

"I could understand what it's like, it's pain," a smiling Brathwaite said. "I just told him to make sure take his time, not to rush it. But he was good to go."

Yet there were also signs of Chanderpaul’s considerable batsmanship, and a flair that separates him from the category of dogged opening batters.

He launched into a series of jumping cut-shots when offered width, while he was equally forthright when Test captain Pat Cummins erred short on his body and helped it on its way for six over fine-leg.

The only quibble batting purists might have had with his entrance to Test cricket would have been his presumption that sweetly-struck strokes were destined for the boundary. On multiple occasions Chanderpaul barely ran as he admired his handiwork, only to realise it may not get there. On one occasion it didn’t.

"He jumped around early here and there but seemed to relax after 20-odd runs, then played a few shots," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au after play. "He looks a good talent."

Certainly Chanderpaul’s pedigree has not led to any special treatment. He has been forced to take the slow route to the highest level.

He formed a potent top three with Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, scoring a century against India, having had already at that stage played first-class cricket for Guyana.

He even played alongside his father in 2017 for the small nation, the only one on the South American mainland where cricket is a major sport.

A stellar 2022 season that saw him average 176.66 at last saw him win a berth at international level, before he sealed his spot with a century in a tour game against the Prime Minister's XI last week.

Chanderpaul has been eager to point out he is not his father, despite the pair's similar styles.

He was more comfortable imitating another Caribbean left-hander, playing another dogged leftie in Gomes in the Bollywood movie ‘83’ about India's first World Cup triumph after being approached by a talent scout while playing in a first-class match in St Lucia.

Chanderpaul could now dare to dream of taking a further leaf out of Gomes' book. If he reaches a debut century on Friday, he will become just the ninth West Indian to manage the feat in Perth, among which is Gomes who in 1984 notched a patient 127 at the WACA Ground.

Men's NRMA Insurance Test Series v West Indies

Nov 30 – Dec 4: First Test, Perth Stadium, 1:20pm AEDT

Dec 8-12: Second Test, Adelaide Oval, 3pm AEDT (day-night)

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas

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