ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – West Indies selection chief Clyde Butts says discarded all-rounder Lendl Simmons needs to return to the drawing board to sort out “issues” that have affected his cricket.

The talented 25-year-old Trinidadian has been overlooked by regional selectors since returning from the one-day tour of Australia in February, prompting speculation over his continued absence from the squad.

“Lendl is one of those players that we’ll have to do some developmental work with,” Butts told the Line and Length Network here yesterday.

“Lendl has had some issues, not only now. If you remember when Lendl was in England a few years ago there were some issues as well, during the World Cup [in 2007] there were some issues with him as well and this tour of Australia [earlier this year].” Simmons, an attacking right-hander, struggled on the one-day tour Down Under, posting scores of 5, 29, 1, 1 and 29 in his five innings.

Also a brilliant fielder and useful medium pacer, Simmons was overlooked for the one-day tour against Zimbabwe in March, the recently concluded World Twenty20 Championship and the current series against South Africa.

He was also ignored for successive A team series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and was overlooked for the upcoming A team tour of England and Ireland.

While declining to say what Simmons’ issues were, Butts pointed out that the player was lacking some of the qualities that selectors were looking for.

“Again with Lendl in Australia, when you look at the way how he batted I don’t think he showed that sort of discipline and maturity,” said the former West Indies off-spinner.

“I think there is some work to do with Lendl. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s a talented person but there is some work to be done with him.”

Simmons has played just three Tests since making his debut last year against England, and has also featured in 19 One-Day Internationals and eight Twenty20 Internationals.

Butts made it clear that while performance was a key requirement for selection, there were other factors which came into play.

“The criteria is not only performance as everybody would tend to think it’s just performance,” he explained.

“It’s the way how you play the game, your discipline – not only on the field but off the field as well.

“These are the sort of combinations we look at in terms of your fielding, batting, your bowling … every little thing we take into consideration when we consider you as a West Indies Test cricketer.”