Quote:It is an issue that won't go away. Debate over the dichotomy of players' preference for the IPL and other such domestic T20 franchise tournaments over commitment to West Indies has sharply split public opinion. It prompted the West Indies Cricket Board to introduce a "West Indies first" policy just over a year ago to let players know where they, and it, stand; most recently, it has drawn opposite views from two senior members of the coaching staff, the head coach, Phil Simmons, and his bowling consultant, Curtly Ambrose.

Simmons, just three months into his position after eight successful years in charge of Ireland, appeared to counter the WICB's principle by stating that, as far as he was concerned, the door was open to IPL players previously unavailable for West Indies duties.

Although encouraged by the performance of a young team in achieving a 1-1 result in his inaugural series, against England, he understandably wants to have all the best players on the selectors' list, those from the IPL among them. It's a view that has coincided with the struggles against the strong, uncompromising Australians in the current mini-series of two Tests.