Durham swoop for Shiv

Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s torment of English bowlers is not yet finished, after he agreed to join Durham, and will be available until the Twenty20 World Championships get underway in South Africa on September 11.

Chanderpaul recently averaged a phenomonal 148.66 in the Wisden Trophy four-Test series against England, emphasising his liking to the English tracks.

Durham will be hoping his excellent form continues as they look to close the gap on the three sides above them in the County Championship, aswell as seek promotion from Division 2 of the Pro40 league. He will also have the chance to influence a Lords Final, when Durham take on Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy on August 18.

The Guyanese left-hander will replace Kiwi Scott Styris, who ended his spell at the Riverside a week before his contract was due to expire, because of a series of niggling injuries.

In addition to the obvious quality and quantity of runs it is hoped he will bring to Durham, Chanderpaul will demonstrate what it takes to become such a world class operator, and give a lesson to the younger players at Durham in professionalism. It will be his first stint of first-class cricket for a club outside of the Caribbean, and he could make his debut as early as Sunday, when they play Surrey in the Pro40.