End of the road for Shiv - selectors drop him for Australia series

The decorated West Indies batsman and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been dropped by the selectors for the Australia series, meaning at 40-years and 283 days old, it is likely the end of the road for the resolute cricketer.

"Players need to know when to walk away," said chairman of selectors and former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. "In my case I sent them (WICB) a letter saying thank you," Lloyd added, "after recognising I wasn't performing as well as I used to."

Chanderpaul has averaged 16 in his last 11 innings, and has clearly shown a remarkable decline for a batsman who has a big appetite for runs and an uncanny ability to bat for long periods.

" When we sit down to select a team, we select a team to win against Australia," head coach Phil Simmonds said. " And he did not fit in."

Simmonds had met with Chanderpaul following the exciting 1-1 series draw against England earlier this month to advise him of the selectors plans.

Chanderpaul has played 164 tests, scoring 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37 with a highest score of 203 not out and 30 centuries. He notched 66 half centuries. In his ODI career, Chanderpaul played 268 matches averaging 41.60 with 11 centuries and a highest score of 150.

Chanderpaul ends 86 runs shy of surpassing the legendary West Indies batsman, Brian Charles Lara in terms of runs scored in test cricket.

The first test between Australia and the West Indies starts June 3, with the second test starting June 11 at Sabina Park.