‘Chanders’ top batsman in England series

LONDON: West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul topped the aggregates and averages of all batsmen in the recent four-Test series between West Indies and England that ended last Saturday. Chanderpaul hit one hundred and two half-centuries in 437 runs at an average of 72.83 from eight innings from the four Tests.

The left-hander’s only century came in the opening Test at Lord’s when he was undefeated on 128 in the first innings. Opening batsman Gayle was the only other batsman to top 400 runs. He lashed one hundred and three half-centuries in exactly 400 at 50 from eight innings in four matches. England’s Andrew Flintoff was his country’s leading batsman with 387 runs at 64.50 from seven innings in four Tests. He hit one hundred and three half-centuries.

Left-arm spin bowler Ashley Giles of England was the leading bowler in the series with 22 wickets at 23.13 runs each from 186.1 overs, the most overs by any bowler. England’s Steve Harmison snared 17 wickets at 29.52 each to be the second most successful bowler in the series. Dwayne Bravo was West Indies’ most successful bowler with 16 wickets at 26.18 apiece. England’s Matthew Hoggard captured the same number of scalps at 30.75 a piece.