The University of the West Indies St. Augustine and Mona will respectively confer the Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) upon Shivnarine 'Tiger' Chanderpaul and Michael Holding for their excellent contribution to cricket at their respective 2018 graduation ceremonies. Chanderpaul will be honoured along with other distinguished personalities- Paula Lucie-Smith, Professor Dermot Kelleher, Hubert Ingraham and Winston 'Shadow' Bailey during this week's graduation ceremony at the St. Augustine campus, October 25-27. Holding will be honoured along with eight (8) other recipients at Mona's graduation, November 2-3.
The UWI must be applauded for recognising their distinguished performances not only to West Indies cricket but also for their role in ensuring the Caribbean identity of excellence is known and etched in the psyche West Indians. They along with so many outstanding cricketers such as Headley, Constantine, Worrell, Sobers, Hall, Lloyd, Kanhai, Lara to name a few have provided Caribbean people something to believe in and be proud.
Throughout their careers Chanderpaul and Holding were ideal role models especially for young Caribbean males by demonstrating that discipline, commitment and perseverance yielded continuous success. They used the bat and ball respectively as anti-colonial whips to exhibit great resilience and combativeness that have come to characterised Caribbean people in so many ways such as the political and social anti-colonial movements, trade unions, women movements, cultural artists, and academics. West Indian cricketers over its history have forged its own winning identity and although since 1995 there have been more losses to victories, the character continues to be unique to which a lot of pride is attached.
Chanderpaul international career spanned 1994-2015. He played 164 test (most by any West Indian), scored 11, 867 runs at an average of 51.37. He scored 30 centuries and 66 half- centuries. His highest score of 203 not out against South Africa in 2005, is the second highest score for a captain in their first match after New Zealand's Graham Dowling 239 against India in 1967-68. He ranks second to Brian Lara (11, 912) in aggregate test runs for West Indians. His 30 Test hundreds are only bettered by Brian Lara (34) and have scored the most half-centuries (66) for any West Indian batsmen. Although he was known for his stodginess, he has the sixth fastest test hundred scored off 69 balls against Australia in 2002/03.
In ODI's, Chanderpaul played 268 matches and scored 8,778 runs at an average of 41.60. He scored 11 centuries and 59 half centuries with a highest of 150. He shares the West Indian record with Stuart Williams for the highest first wicket partnership with an unbroken 200 runs against India in 1997 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Despite his outstanding contributions, Chanderpaul was unceremoniously dumped by the West Indies selectors and CWI. However, as a student of the game although he should have been gravely disappointed he should not have been surprised as many before would have experienced a similar fate. According to Brian Lara (2017) "I was very disappointed that Shiv was not allowed a couple of more Test matches, not necessarily to break the record but to have a proper send-off. Something I think he is very disappointed [about] and unfortunately, that did not happen," "That guy with the most Test matches for the West Indies, playing for over 20 years, I don't think people in the West Indies understand exactly his contribution."
It is therefore fitting that The UWI decision to honour Chanderpaul is also fulfilling the desire of one of greatest batsmen of all time Brian Charles Lara. Congratulations to Shivnarine 'Tiger' Chanderpaul you have been an outstanding ambassador to West Indies cricket and the people of the region. Take a bow, and you deserve all your accolades.
"I don't feel it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning." Michel Foucault