Shivnarine Chanderpaul asserts desire to play Test cricket for West Indies again

Shivnarine Chanderpaul during a West Indies training session in April 2015

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, currently playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, reiterated his desire of playing Test cricket for West Indies again. The 40-year-old left-handed batsman, who has represented his country for two decades, was excluded from the team to face Australia, and might be facing a dead end to his long international career.

“Definitely, but I am on the outside just waiting to see what is happening,” he replied on whether he hopes to play Test cricket again.

"Retirement isn't on the cards at the moment. Not for now, not till probably the ending of the year maybe."

Chanderpaul was axed after managing only 92 runs at an average of 15.33 in the three Tests against England in April and May. However, his replacements did not step up in the Australia series where West Indies suffered huge defeats – going down in the first Test by nine wickets and in the second by 277 runs.

Not concerned about Lara record: Chanderpaul

The weak Windies batting display leaves room for an international recall for Chanderpaul, who is 87 runs short of overtaking Brian Lara as the leading Test run-getter from the Caribbean.

Lara has been one of the loudest critics of how Chanderpaul has been treated by the Windies board. Chanderpaul said on the prospect of eclipsing the record held by one of the region’s most well-loved heroes.

"Well, I am not thinking too much about that. You can't have all these things at the back of your mind but if it happens it happens, but if it doesn't it doesn't."