Chanderpaul the evergreen continues to dispel age myth

They say age is no barrier, which sounds wonderful, but if that was the case, Glenn McGrath would still be bowling at Sachin, with Rod Marsh keeping wicket.

Truth is that for sportspeople, cricketers included, age does simply catch up with you.

It’s not like the life of a businessman, who in his older years can claim experience and sit behind a large mahogany desk.

Eventually, the rigors of sport reel you in, and while some hang on longer than others time, time ever so slowly holts all aspirations.

Today, Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined a rare and illustrious group; batsmen to have scored a Test ton over the age of 40.

Let that stat sink in.

Over the 120-odd years of international Test cricket, only 19 players have managed to keep their batting prowess ticking past their 30s.

It’s often hard enough to remain part of an International XI over the age of 35 as younger, fitter players begin snapping at your heels. Accordingly, Chanderpaul playing on into his 40s is quite an achievement in itself.

Not even the great Sachin Tendulkar, while playing his last Test past the age of 40, could not snare that last elusive ton.

In fact, Tendulkar was clean bowled more often towards the end of his career, a clear example of age catching up.

Yet Shiv has bagged one, and now sits in the history books alongside great names such as Jack Hobbs, Bob Simpson, and countryman Clive Lloyd, as players who just continued to reach triple figures – disregarding the social construct that age inhibits performance.

Yes, Shiv plays for the Windies, and possibly doesn’t face as much competition for his spot as some other international batsmen.

Yes, this Test was against Bangladesh, who aren’t the most vicious bowling outfit on the market. Irrespective, this is a feat which hasn’t occurred since Graham Gooch racked up his 20th century more than two decades ago.

Remarkably, his form has also shown no sign of waning.

Since 2010, Chanders has averaged over 70 in Test cricket, plundering runs around the globe, against all opposition.

He has also attracted the odd bit of negativity from some cricket followers who tout the belief that he can score too slowly, and occasionally doesn’t protect the tail like a senior player should.

He has the most ‘not outs’ of any member of the 10,000 club, often asking the question of whether or not he’s batting two low in the order at five and six.

Yet it’s fair to say, that those criticisms are more of a representation of the soft naught-like top order of the West Indies side in its Post-Lara stage.

In fact, his ability to accumulate runs slowly, yet consistently, is one of the reasons he’s become one of the West Indies greatest batsmen.

It’s not just his longevity, or his batting average of around 53 that brings adulation Chanderpaul’s way – he has three of the most recognisable traits in international cricket.

The first is his crabby, two-eyed stance that makes Simon Katich’s technique look like handbook quality, yet both managed to cream fours through cover like a conventional player.

Shiv also has a unique way of taking guard, now adopted by some other younger West Indian players. He removes one of the bails, and uses his bat handle to bash in a mark on pitch for off and middle stump.

For those seeing it for the first time, it looks a strange ritual.

Yet Shiv’s more recognisable trait is indeed his eye makeup.

In a strategy straight out of NFL and Major League Baseball, Chanders dons the black eyeliner to his cheeks, in an attempt to reduce sunlight glare.

Irrespective of whether it’s something in the water, the Caribbean lifestyle, or perhaps the fact that he hasn’t played an ODI in three years, Shiv continues to stay at the top of his game.

He’s a crowd favourite both through the West Indies, and internationally, despite not being the swash-buckling batsman that seem to be all the rage these days.

The real question however, is for how much longer.

His current form would suggest he’s still peaking, and I’m sure there’s no one in World Cricket, except perhaps some angry bowlers, who doesn’t want to see Chanders continue to turn out for the Windies.