Chanderpaul Keen On Durham Return
Chanderpaul - lovin' life in England.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is hoping to return to Durham for a third successive summer in 2009.
The world's number one batsman, like his team-mates fearing a another washout on the final day of the top-of-the-table clash against Nottinghamshire at Riverside, is hoping his third stint at Durham will be his longest.
Chanderpaul has not done his famed run-making justice so far in either of his six-week stays - having made only 91 from five innings this time round.
His enthusiasm is undiminished, though, and the West Indies left-hander is already setting his sights on a more substantial return next year.
"We [West Indies] only have a tour at the beginning and one later on next year, so I hope I can be here for a bit longer - longer than a month and a bit," he said.
Durham's 2008 title bid will benefit from Chanderpaul's assistance in only one more match - against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl - before he is scheduled to join the Windies' Champions Trophy preparations.
They must therefore explore the possibilities of a replacement overseas player for their final four LV Division One fixtures.
In the more immediate term, though, they and Nottinghamshire were today in danger of making an unwanted piece of history as the supposed competitors in only the second complete four-day washout at this venue.
Abandonments of championship matches without a ball bowled are a rare beast in the era of covered pitches - and the only previous instance here occurred back in 1997.
The choices open to the top two teams are a one-innings match or an attempt to salvage bonus points - should any play eventually be possible.
It seems most likely the lower-risk bonus-point option will be preferred.
Prospects were so dismal yesterday that Nottinghamshire's players were not even tempted to venture south from their Newcastle hotel, and it did not take long for forecast rain to arrive for the third consecutive day.
With three wickets or more a much more obvious target - in likely bowler-friendly conditions - than 200 runs, whoever wins the toss today will have an easy decision to make - if the match gets that far.