Dhaka, Nov 14 (bdnews24.com) - Shivnarine Chanderpaul has stood the test of time. When the world of cricket was drooling over a certain Brian Lara, an unassuming 20-year-old Guyanese player made his debut against England way back in 1994 in the same match as Lara.
While those present at Georgetown were raving about Lara's hundred, Chanderpaul scored a half-century.
But while the 'Prince of Trinidad' has bowed out of the game, Chanderpaul with his unique crab-like stance has outlasted many up and coming West Indian cricketers of his generation.
Thanks to his longevity, Chanderpaul has become only the second West Indies player to score 10,000 Test runs.
But for all his durability, the 38-year-old southpaw has only notched one double Test hundred in his career.
But on Wednesday, he equalled his highest Test score – 203 not out against Bangladesh on the second day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Obviously, the fact that he had notched another one did not go unnoticed by him.
"You must have noticed that in my career I scored not too many double hundreds. It's always pleasing to score a double century," he told journalists.
Chanderpaul's only other double hundred came against South Africa in Georgetown in 2005.
But he was not ready to bask in the glory of his achievement.
"Well, the team comes first, doesn't matter what your individual score is. Whatever the team plan is that is what we have to stick to. I was happy to get to the landmark."
On Tuesday the left-hander completed his 26th Test hundred and equalled the great Sir Gary Sobers.
"it's a great honour to be there along with Sir Gary, I know I have played a lot more games than Sir Gary, but it's a great honour to be there. Sir Gary is Sir Gary, but like I said it's an honour to be up there."
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