Moore praises Chanderpaul

David Moore © Getty Images

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West Indies coach David Moore has urged the younger players in his squad to follow the example of Shivnarine Chanderpaul after hailing him as “one of the most versatile cricketers in the world”.

Chanderpaul demonstrated enormous powers of concentration during the recent npower Test series with England when he went through a period of 17 hours and 40 minutes without being dismissed.

But he showed the other side of his game with an explosive innings in the first NatWest Twenty20 clash between the countries at the Brit Oval with several improvised shots.

Now the 33-year-old will attempt to transform that form into the game’s 50-over format in the three-match NatWest Series - beginning at Lord’s on Sunday.

Moore said: “We have a young group of players so we have got to learn and it is about gathering experience and also about gathering volume of practice and play.

“We have got to hit a lot more cricket balls in practice and in games and we have got to learn how to construct innings and watch good cricketers carefully and learn from them.

“We have got a great example in Shivnarine Chanderpaul in our own midst. He is a true professional.

Shiv Chanderpaul showed his ability in limited overs cricket in the first Twenty20 international

“He has proved to everyone that he can bat for long periods in the Test matches and he has also come out in the first Twenty20 game and did what we know he can do and taken an attack apart.

“He must be one of the most versatile cricketers in the world to be able to do that.

“Our players need to look at how he prepares. If I was a young cricketer, I’d be looking at how Chanderpaul prepares as a batter and take a leaf out of his book. I know how he prepares and that’s the way you need to as a cricketer.”

Moore added: “It didn’t surprise us the way he played in the Twenty20 because we saw him take Australia apart in Malaysia in the DFL Cup last year just before the ICC Champions Trophy.

“He brought down the best Australian bowlers in exactly the same way, with just amazing shots, but technically he gets into a good position and away he goes.

“It shows mental strength because not many people can do what he does - block it out in the Tests and smash it around in the Twenty20. That’s what makes him one of the better cricketers in the world.

“He is now our number one batsmen in the team and getting really good recognition for it.”

Devon Smith and Chanderpaul have been passed fit to play in the NatWest Series opener

Moore is looking for the Windies to improve their limited-overs record as, like England, they underperformed in the World Cup when failing to qualify for the semi-finals.

He said: “The Twenty20 game suits us pretty well because we have got some power hitters and some very smart players who can work the ball as well.

“But I think we underperform in the 50-over game and hopefully we can start improving from tomorrow (Sunday).

“This is our first game in 50 overs since the World Cup so we haven’t had much time to change things because we have been concentrating on Tests.

“In a sense, we are up against it because we have lost Ramnaresh Sarwan, who is ranked one of the world’s best one-day batsmen through injury, and we have lost Brian Lara as well now he has retired.

“The key to this group is that they are very close and are working hard at their game and they are learning from what we have been speaking about in meetings and I am confident these guys can actually execute their plans.

“We have lost a couple of players but we have a nucleus of what we can build upon and they are gaining confidence in their own ability and gaining experience.”

Chanderpaul (sore knee) and fellow batsman Devon Smith (quad muscle strain) have both been passed fit to play after missing the second Twenty20 game on Friday night.