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Coach of the West Indies cricket team Phil Simmons met with struggling West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for a lengthy period on Monday in Barbados, as they discussed his future with the regional side.

The 40-year-old Chanderpaul who is nearing Brian Lara’s mark for the most Test runs by a West Indian, had a miserable tour against England, where he tallied just 92 runs at a lowly average of 15.33 from six innings.

The West Indies went on to win the Test match by five wickets and square the series but there has been calls from some quarters for Chanderpaul to leave before he is pushed out.

I think this scrutiny of Chanderpaul should stop. The man has earned the right to go when he wants to, and no one should try to force him out. Yes, he had a bad series, but everyone has one from time to time.

I really want to see a West Indian in the 12k club. I am a huge Lara fan and I was devastated when Lara retired 47 shy back in 2007. Now I want to see Chanders get that landmark, who knows which west indian, if any will even come close

Send the Creepy Crawling Crab off now !!

In reply to NineMiles

Summons said that the meeting was very fruitful...they agreed to meet again in 2 years as part of the Future Tours Program

In reply to FanAttick


Yep, it's going to take that long for Crabbie to reach the 12k mark !!

In reply to NineMiles

No. Great Man has set a new target.., having dismissed Lara he now has Tendulkar in his sights..

In reply to FanAttick

He'll have to crawl to those targets till he's about 100 years old then!

In reply to NineMiles

After he pelt another 60 ball ton vs the Aussies he will go into overdrive...I wouldn't put 20K test runs and 60 test tons past him..,he is that good( great)

I personally believe that chanderpaul is still as good as he ever was. He is just under tremendous pressure. It would be a shame to push him out. we need more time to be sure this isn't just a bad run of form

No player is bigger than the game, and nobody has any right to play until he decides to stop.

Cuss Lara as much as you want, he retired while still at his top of his game. He knew when to pack it in.

I would say his dismal showing in the England tests was down to inactivity.
There was no first class cricket for him for awhile now so it will take him awhile to get back his focus.
WICB is to blame for our lads showing up late at every series because they are not prepared properly.

Let the man play

We can no longer justify Shannapaul hanging around West Indies cricket until he grows a white beard all in search of fame and glory.

Some of his supporters may have a reason and it is can only be viewed as personal and selfish. Empirical evidence always tells a true story. And Channapaul has been given sufficient time to achieve his personal milestone.

This is team sports and there is no place for unproductive joyriders whose numbers stretch beyond a bad patch.

If the WICB wants to send Channapaul off in grand style, they can organize a huge banquet and shower him will all the accolades, frankincense and myrrh in the world.

Allowing the player to determine his own destiny in the face of severely declining numbers also sets a dangerous precedent which may have severe repercussions moving forward. The tail must not wag the dog and must not be allowed to.

And finally, persons in the leadership of West Indies cricket need to grow some gonads and stop passing the buck on this matter. Make a decision in the interest of West Indies cricket. This should be the only consideration.

I am De Courtesy and I have defended Channapaul vehemently in the past when it mattered and was warranted.

Pure skuntery. What's there to discuss? I daresay Shiv KNOWS he's done. He needs to do the right thing!!!

In reply to brians_da_best

So if Shiv has 6 bad series on a trot now? Shiv is not going to go until he is told... shiv loves playing too much. Unfortunately, all good things must end one day. Shiv did a lot for us, but he's human, he can't do it forever. I won't be surprised if the Australian series is his last.

In reply to Larr Pullo

In all fairness, if he wants to play against de OZ, he should but de WICB should tell him to announce his retirement that the OZ is de last series he will be part of....If he choose not to announce, then WICB have all right to move on without him...

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

If Chanderpaul broke Lara's record it would be a significant achievement for a batsmen who has never received the credit he so richly deserves. Chanderpaul's gritty style of batting hasn't always pleased spectators. However, his captains over the years have appreciated his ability to stay at the crease while wickets tumbled at the other end.

A tough decision has to be made, should Chanderpaul be allowed to become the all-time run scorer for West Indies or should he be forced to retire.

Some veteran cricketers in the past have reached major milestones without embarrassing themselves while others haven't been so fortunate. For example, Walsh broke the record for most wickets in Tests and walked away from the game. On the other hand, it was painful to watch Kapil Dev as he slowly passed Richard Hadlee for most wickets in Tests.

The decision on Chanderpaul may well be determined by how much gas he is perceived to have left in the tank.

Simmo is now talking to Shiv. Before it was Opiss...and before Opiss was some other Piss...so it goes. Shiv talking to them all. He should be selected on merit.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Hang in there Shiv for one last hurrah. Don't die wondering if you could have gotten over the line.

In reply to Larr Pullo

What is the right thing for Shiv to do, Pullo?

For you, Shiv would have done the right thing a long time ago and exit WI cricket...many eons ago. Your issue with Shiv being a part of WI cricket is quite pronounced.

If he doesn't play agains t Australia who will? Probably someone who isnt ready and will go backwards as a result. If it was an easier team team then there would be a debate... but as its Oz i think he should stay for these two tests - and then think again.

In reply to mittheimp

Dude in 20 years, the man failed in 3 tests...we gave many of lesser abilities plenty of chances to prove their worth (or worthlessness) and yet we clamor for their inclusion, irrespective of their non-performance. We reshuffle, replace, recycle the same names hence our inability to progress. But now this urgency to drop a player has never been more determined.

In reply to runout
Many here do not understand cricket or the state of West Indies cricket. Or others like Larra are just racist.
Shiv is soon 41. Everyone knows his time is nigh.
But his value to the team is not just runs. We are building a new team of youngsters. Someone has to guide and nurture them. We must have experience in the middle of the youth.
Shiv mentors all the young players. That is a fact. The other experienced player Marlon Samuels mentors no one.
Had Marlon Samuels been a different person, then Shiv should have gone a year ago. With Braithwaite and now Blackwood developing so nicely, Shiv can ride off into the sunset on his own terms.

The man has failed in the last 2 series. If you're over 40 and want to continue in sport you'd better be still helping the team.

The tolerance for failure of a 40+ player is understandably less than a youngster. Shiv should go now. It's painful watching him slip...

Chanderpaul will be selected for the 2 Test matches against Australia then he will be retire (or force to retire) regardless of how close he is to 12,000 runs.

In reply to Gupta

Whichever way it goes...Shiv will have cemented his place in WI cricket annals...much to the chagrin of the folks who wished he was never there.

I thought Simmons already got the job ...

How is that Simmons role to discuss his future?

He better be careful how he talk to Shiv, he better tip-toe through the tulips, and he better be sure Shiv understand where he is coming from.....or else........oh well.......last time one of these talks brought about kadooment.........

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

"Former Test player Philo Wallace recently made his views clear on Chanderpaul saying that he should be given the five home Tests (three against England and two against Australia) and then properly honoured by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for his services to the regional team."

Philo Wallace, many shame to you. The tiger is not given anything by the WI. He earned his value is the side. How many bats men had a bad patch? Since the team his now grooming young batters they need to keep Shanders in the team even if he wants to play until 42. By that time (2 years) Craig and Blackwood should be fully matured and hopefully another opener.

If we are up 2 - 0 in a 3 off series then he can site if the final mach and so on.

I prefer to have Shanders for 2 more years than to have Marlon Samules for 3 more years.

Shiv should consult with a few top ex players, after much introspection/ honest self evaluation and decide from there in talks with Phil and the coaches.

Shiv if U not seeing the ball good then facing the Mitchs is dangerous only U know wha go on!
If the coaches see him looking bad in the nets talk with him.

Apparently Shiv told Simmons that in light of the impressive WI victory, that he, Simmons, should continue on as coach for at least the next 2 years, and I agree with that position - we should not force Simmo out, he just started for goodness sakes.

In reply to carl0002

In reply to Stumpoff

by your criteria , Sir E should b there.

man still in good form 90 n.o

In reply to smuggler

I thought so too. But that last drag was so unlike Chanders.

Usually he has time..so much time..every thing looks so fast to him.