The first match of the two-match Test series between West Indies and Australia is currently being played at the Optus Stadium. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, and they posted a huge score of 598/4 in the first innings.
The 26-year-old son of West Indies batsman Shivnarin Chanderpaul was in good form throughout Day 2 as the visitors opened their innings after Australia had posted 598 for four.
However, Tagenarine and skipper Kraigg Braithwaite put up a strong fight for the visitors, with the rookie opening batsman taking on a star-studded Australian bowling line-up with a brilliant 47 to stay unbeaten at the break on Day 2.
Tagenarine managed to survive the second night, and did so bravely, displaying bravery and skill. He got off the mark with a streaky outside edge off the vacant fourth slip first ball. But after that, he looked at everything as a Test cricketer.
Chanderpaul edged Hazlewood down the ground at fourth slip to match his father’s feat on Test debut in 1994. However, The pair could not bat for long on the third morning. tage was bowled by Hazlewood and caught by David Warner to limit his innings to 51 runs. Chanderpaul faced 79 balls and hit seven fours and one six.
The son of a gun looked the part on debut #AUSvWI https://t.co/QGCgqZCKh2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 2, 2022
The son of Shivanaren’s half-century on debut in Perth, his batting familiarity, his technique, and his general presence at the crease made an impression on the locals as he looked set to build an impressive Test career.
Similar to his father’s first Test innings in Australia in 1996, Shivnarine scored 82 off 230 balls. Tagenarine batted after seeing Australia amass 598 runs in five batting sessions at the Perth Stadium, while Shivanrine watched Australia amass 479 runs in five sessions at the Gabba.
But unlike his father, who batted at No.5 in that Brisbane Test, Tagenarine had to bat with skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and negotiate with Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon. Incredibly, both Starc and Lyon bowled to his father in Test cricket in 2012 and dismissed him once each.
“He’s a fighter so it isn’t surprising. It was good to see,” Brathwaite said on the second night. “I knew for a while playing against him that he always has fight, for he always takes his time and bats long periods. No surprise at all. I think he has a bright future for the West Indies.”
“He’s going to be special. He’s going do a great job. I look forward to batting with him for many years to come.”
The Test debut of father and son is 28 years, 8 months apart and it is special that both started their cricket career with a half-century. Shivnarine scored 62 off 135 balls with 9 fours in the debut match against England.