Solitary Shivnarine Chanderpaul just happy to keep on batting

[roseboy64]

The No1 batsman in the world admits it's always about him against the rest of the world, whether it's battles with personalities, the media or leading the West Indies

There are few subjects that will shake Chanderpaul out of his private world, but Kevin Pietersen is one of them. The two batsmen are polar opposites – *Pietersen loves the limelight, Chanderpaul detests "glamour"; Pietersen loves to take risks, Chanderpaul would rather stay at the crease. They meet again at Lord's on Wednesday as England take on West Indies. At the mention of KP, *Chanderpaul's face grows very dark. On the recent West Indies tour Pietersen took a swipe at him, accusing him of "playing for himself". It was a comment that Chanderpaul did not take lightly.

"You can't assume or think someone's just playing for themselves. I don't know where he gets his stories from … I can't be playing for myself when I'm in Trinidad trying to save a match. Scoring 140 and I'm playing for myself?" Chanderpaul's expression is one of utter disgust.

"As soon as the teacher back turned, she don't see me again," he says. "She'd look out the window and see me on the ground playing. My sister just used to pick up my schoolbag and bring it home."

[Athlai]

Never actually thought about it but KP is pretty much the definition of a selfish cricketer while out at the crease. Calling Chanderpaul selfish was pretty laughable.

[Burgey]

sammy2 to respond.....

[sammy2]

Bob willis can call KP anything he please and CW members cheer, but if I say KP is anything I become a troll and should be banned. How the **** can anyone care what hypocrites have to say ?

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by sammy2

Bob willis can call KP anything he please and CW members cheer, but if I say KP is anything I become a troll and should be banned. How the **** can anyone care what hypocrites have to say ?

I'd hook right into KP if I were you mate. Reckon's Athlai was spot on - his comment's (KP's) were way OTT.

[Noble One]

Chanderpaul will probably not be dismissed in the upcoming series. Showing the determination and perseverance of a man looking to hold his team aloft.

Pietersen will play a couple flashy innings, but ultimately be dismissed time and time again playing a big shot. Attempting to look a million dollars.

Which player plays for themselves again? Odd.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by Noble One

Chanderpaul will probably not be dismissed in the upcoming series. Showing the determination and perseverance of a man looking to hold his team aloft.

Pietersen will play a couple flashy innings, but ultimately be dismissed time and time again playing a big shot. Attempting to look a million dollars.

Which player plays for themselves again? Odd.

Presupposes you know what motivates KP. Think you're painting a very unfair picture of him. By that logic, Gilchrist was a selfish player, getting out many times in tough circumstances. But, of course, nothing but "That's just the way he plays...." from the commentators, probably because he's a nice guy and has big, cute ears. KP does the same thing and he's selfish?

[Noble One]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Presupposes you know what motivates KP. Think you're painting a very unfair picture of him. By that logic, Gilchrist was a selfish player, getting out many times in tough circumstances. But, of course, nothing but "That's just the way he plays...." from the commentators, probably because he's a nice guy and has big, cute ears. KP does the same thing and he's selfish?

You are spot on. I wasn't attempting to tarnish KP too much. I just found his comments to be disrespectful of a wonderfully determined and gritty cricketer. The way KP plays is of huge importance to his teams performance. Nothing can change the game more dramatic that a batsman striding out and taking command of the bowling attack, something both KP and Gilchrist do well. They place their own average and reputation on the line by looking to dominate.

I just think KP was the wrong person to criticise the way Chanderpaul plays the game. Don't feel anyone should criticise Chanderpaul, few players epitomise the backbone of a team more than Shiv.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by Noble One

You are spot on. I wasn't attempting to tarnish KP too much. I just found his comments to be disrespectful of a wonderfully determined and gritty cricketer. The way KP plays is of huge importance to his teams performance. Nothing can change the game more dramatic that a batsman striding out and taking command of the bowling attack, something both KP and Gilchrist do well. They place their own average and reputation on the line by looking to dominate.

I just think KP was the wrong person to criticise the way Chanderpaul plays the game. Don't feel anyone should criticise Chanderpaul, few players epitomise the backbone of a team more than Shiv.

Yeah agreed, KP definitely should have kept his trap firmly shut on that one.

[oitoitoi]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Presupposes you know what motivates KP. Think you're painting a very unfair picture of him. By that logic, Gilchrist was a selfish player, getting out many times in tough circumstances. But, of course, nothing but "That's just the way he plays...." from the commentators, probably because he's a nice guy and has big, cute ears. KP does the same thing and he's selfish?

Well there's a big difference between doing it at no.7 in an ultra successful team and doing at no.4 in a poor team where you're clearly the best player. Can't remember Gilly getting out to stupid shots when the pressure was on anyway, remember him defending and edging behind in tight situations but never trying to hoick it into next week, at least not in tests.

[Jono]

It doesn't matter how KP bats. KP could bat like Gavaskar, he could bat like Tendulkar or whomever, his comments were uncalled for and I don't think even the staunchest KP supporter would agree with what he said, nor even try and defend it.

[jondavluc]

Never been a fan of Kevin"figjam" Pietersen and his comments of Shiv haven't convinced me to like him ethier that is for certain.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by oitoitoi

Well there's a big difference between doing it at no.7 in an ultra successful team and doing at no.4 in a poor team where you're clearly the best player. Can't remember Gilly getting out to stupid shots when the pressure was on anyway, remember him defending and edging behind in tight situations but never trying to hoick it into next week, at least not in tests.

Course he did. Here are a couple that immediately come to mind without even having to look them up;

Chasing a low total on a fairly uneven deck, Hayden and Clarke just out so what does Gilly do? Try to spank Harbhajan into the stands and is caught on the fence leaving Aus 7/58 with nothing but the tail to come;

Cricinfo - 4th Test: India v Australia at Mumbai, Nov 3-5, 2004

Aus, having just lost Katich, needed someone to stick around to the end of the day with Clarke to give themselves a chance on day 5. Gilly comes out and with an airy swing, lobs Giles to mid-on leaving Gillespie exposed with a few overs to come and the pressure all on Clarke to score the runs.

Cricinfo - 2nd Test: England v Australia at Birmingham, Aug 4-7, 2005

Personally all the good Gilly did far, far outweighs indiscretions like the above and others but let's face it, if it was Pietersen in the same situation, he'd be bollocked.

He's still a douche, though.

[GIMH]

Originally Posted by Jono

It doesn't matter how KP bats. KP could bat like Gavaskar, he could bat like Tendulkar or whomever, his comments were uncalled for and I don't think even the staunchest KP supporter would agree with what he said, nor even try and defend it.

Yep, count me as one of those staunch supporters but I don't think he should have said it.

I also don't agree when people call Pietersen selfish, mind.

[silentstriker]

KP would call Allan Border selfish. KP is the definition of a selfish cricketer. It works for him though, and it works for England.