Chanderpaul, the silent gatherer of runs

Now that Rahul Dravid has quit the international scene and Ricky Ponting's future is clearly in doubt; now that Sachin Tendulkar has been nudged towards a life in politics and Andrew Strauss's future is the cause for concern; who will be the next leader of the pack, asks Ted Corbett, in the Hindu. His answer: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who, as he writes, has had a fine career, yet you might feel you hardly know anything of this contrary genius.

No batsman in history has ever — to use a cliché Roebuck would never bring himself to write — let his bat do the talking more often. Whether he has been batting in the shadow of Lara, or Chris Gayle or briefly in charge, Shiv has stood quietly in the background, concentrating so hard he did not have to talk, and apparently oblivious to the events around him.

Now we must recognise that he is one of the ‘10,000 Club' that is reserved for the truly great and praise the fisherman's son who hauled in a great catch without ever causing great waves.