Sarwan last played for West Indies in July 2011. -Photo by AP

LONDON: Ramnaresh Sarwan had blamed the negative actions of “certain individuals” in the West Indies coaching set-up for his absence from the team.

Top-order batsman Sarwan boasts a respectable Test average of over 40 but has not featured for the West Indies since July 2011.

It is the front-line batting that is arguably the weakest part of West Indies’ game at the present time.

Yet while a novice top order collapsed to 86 for three and 36 for three in a five-wicket first Test defeat by England at Lord’s, Sarwan was with English county side Leicestershire for whom he made 117 and 98 against Essex last week.

Sarwan, in common with fellow former captain Chris Gayle, has been in international exile after a run-in with the West Indies hierarchy.

And while Gayle appears to be on the brink of a return to international duty, Sarwan appears destined to stay on the sidelines for a while yet.

The 31-year-old Sarwan was told by selectors in September 2010 to get in shape after failing to earn a central contract for that year.

“(The coach) said some negative stuff that hurt me mentally and emotionally,” Sarwan told the BBC in an interview Monday.

He refused to name the coach or coaches involved but the Guyanese, who has 15 hundreds in 87 Tests to his credit, added: “Mentally I was broken down, not from the stress of playing, it’s just certain individuals have drained me mentally.

“It took a toll on my confidence and the way I play. Everything went away.”

In 2010, West Indies said Sarwan’s “extremely indifferent attitude and sporadic approach towards fitness” was the reason behind not awarding him a central contract.

But Sarwan insisted: (The coach) said some very negative stuff about me, things that were hurtful, hurt me mentally, emotionally.

“I never spoke about this because I was caught up in a shell and I used to not come out of my house for up to three days.

“My dad was the one to inspire me to start back playing. I was going to stop because they were getting the better of me but when I saw him break down emotionally that inspired me.”

Sarwan said he was grateful to Leicestershire for signing him and added loyalty to the Midlands county meant he could not now break his contract in order to play for the West Indies during this tour of England.

“I’m thankful to (Leicestershire) for giving me the opportunity,” he said.

“I need to play a full season to find my feet and I owe (Leicestershire) because they’ve invested in me.”

He added: “I’m big on principle and when I was in the dust being kicked by my own people I was given an opportunity by this club and I will not forsake that or betray anyone.”

The second Test of a three-match series between England and the West Indies starts at Trent Bridge on Friday.