Chanderpaul axed for Australia Tests

Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of the West Indies training squad ahead of the two-Test series against Australia.

Chanderpaul’s non-selection was confirmed on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEST), with head selector Clive Lloyd communicating the decision directly to Chanderpaul both verbally and in writing.”Tis was a tough decision for the Selection Panel to make,” Lloyd said.”We recognise the significant contribution Chanderpaul has made to the West Indies teams over the last two decades, but we want to take this opportunity to introduce a number of young, promising players into the squad.”

Chanderpaul has been a mainstay of the West Indies middle order for 21 years, and his absence from this series comes with him just 86 runs short of Brian Lara’s all-time West Indian run scoring record.The 40-year-old has built an imposing resume since his debut against England in 1994, compiling 11,867 runs at 51 with 30 centuries.But his prolific run-scoring has tailed off in his past two series against South Africa and England, scoring 183 runs from 11 innings with one half-century.

He currently holds the No.12 position in the ICC Test batting rankings, well ahead of the next highest-ranked Windies batsman, Darren Bravo in 28th.