5 batsmen who turned into one-man armies for their teams

#2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Averaging 51.37 and being only second to the Brian Lara in terms of most career Test runs scored by a West Indian (that too, only 45 behind) are intimidating achievements, all the more so considering the idiosyncratic stance and weird technique Shivnarine Chanderpaul is famous for. Yet, it is this man who held fort after Lara’s retirement and refused to surrender his wicket, scoring tediously for his team while the likes of Gayle and Sarwan prioritized flamboyance instead.

In ODIs, Chanderpaul averages more than all his teammates except Ramnaresh Sarwan. Although his hundred-scoring spree was founded in the 2001-02 Test series against India, it was not until Lara had retired in 2007 that the left-hander could establish himself as a one-man army. Among a horde of irresponsible talent and disinterested players, the Guyanese stood tall scoring consistently against the best teams in the world.

The former world No. 1 in Test cricket is known for his perseverance and eagerness to protect his wicket – a quality that has aided in many a Caribbean comeback in recent memory. The events of 2012 series against Australia would probably be apt to describe Chanderpaul’s role in the otherwise unpromising West Indies batting line-up. The mighty left-hander went on to accumulate 346 runs in 5 innings while the rest of the team returned paupers, the next highest aggregate being a distant 186.