Never dreamt of achieving this milestone: Chanderpaul
After becoming the most capped player in Test cricket for the West Indies, Shivnarine Chanderpaul said he never dreamt of reaching the milestone and that his major aim in the remainder of his career is to bring his side back to winning ways.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: July 07, 2011 08:37 PM IST
After becoming the most capped player in Test cricket for the West Indies, Shivnarine Chanderpaul said he never dreamt of reaching the milestone and that his major aim in the remainder of his career is to bring his side back to winning ways.
Chanderpaul, a wily left-handed batsman, surpassed fast bowling great Courtney Walsh, who played 132 matches, during the third Test against India which began on Wednesday.
Third on the West Indies all-time list is another legend Brian Lara, who played 131 Test matches.
"This is a milestone I never dreamt of achieving, certainly not when I started playing Test cricket so it is a great honour to achieve this milestone."
"I would like to thank all those people who have helped me along the way to reach this point in my career. I have two major goals now. The first is to help the West Indies team start winning again and the second is to pass on some of my knowledge and experience to the young players to help them improve their game and take West Indies cricket forward," he said.
Chanderpaul said his love for the game has not changed in all these years.
"Throughout my long career I have always enjoyed playing the game and I love batting with a passion. That love and passion are still there and hopefully they will keep me in the game for a bit longer. Even though I am in the last part of my career I still have that hunger for success."
Chanderpaul made his Test debut as a 19-year-old against England in his native Guyana in 1994. Before Wednesday's play, he made 9228 runs at an average of 48.56 with 22 centuries.
He was named International Cricket Council's Cricketer of the Year in 2008 when he won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. He was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2008.