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A forgotten man of West Indies cricket is sitting on the sidelines wondering why he's not been part of the selectors' plans.

Franklyn Rose, however, says bluntly he's not prepared to wait forever to gain the recognition he deserves.

The 30-year-old Jamaican fast bowler burst onto the international scene with a six-wicket haul on Test debut against India five years ago. But for a variety of reasons, he has had a chequered career and has not represented the West Indies since the 2000 summer's tour of England.

I can't see the reason why I'm out of the West Indies team, especially with the bowlers they are using at the moment no disrespect to them, Rose said. The biggest problem with our bowling is the lack of experience.

We don't have any tear-away fast bowlers. The pitches are flat and the guys need some more aggression and encouragement from teammates.

Rose has returned to Jamaica prematurely following knee surgery in South Africa that cut short his professional contract with Gauteng, but he hopes to be fit enough to return to the game for the last two matches on the current Busta Cup.

When his season came to an end, he was his team's leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps (ave. 22.94) in five matches in the Super Sport first-class championship.

He would have closely followed the fortunes of the West Indies team in recent series against Sri Lanka and the ongoing one against Pakistan.

In both cases, West Indies bowlers struggled badly and having watched a lot of it on television, Rose described it as a `painful' experience.

I am very hurt, especially when I'm walking on the street and people say `why are you here? You should be on the West Indies team,' he said.

At the end of the day, the selectors call the game. It is very disappointing seeing the West Indies team on the television and know that I should be there.

I know that I'm better than a few of the bowlers. I'm going to do my best and try and get as fit as quickly as possible and hopefully I can be back in the West Indies team and stay as long as possible.

Rose, who has taken 53 wickets (ave. 30.88) in 19 Tests, has been in and out of the West Indies for a combination of reasons, including indifferent performances and problems over attitude.

His options are not limited and he makes it clear that his overseas commitments as a professional may be his priority.

I'm not going to sit and wait on West Indies cricket, he said.

I'm going to continue playing my cricket in England and South Africa, play a few games for Jamaica, and hopefully to be back in the West Indies as well, but I'm not going to sit and wait on West Indies cricket.

His situation, however, may be complicated in light of the West Indies Cricket Board's eligibility rule which stipulates that players must make themselves available for regional competitions in order to be considered for international duty.

Rose missed last October's Red Stripe Bowl while he was in South Africa and will only play in this year's Busta Series because of the injury that ended his season on the other side of the world.

I can't understand that rule, Rose said.

He made reference to a previous scenario in which Barbadian Ottis Gibson, who was also playing professional in South Africa during the West Indies' 1998-99 tour, was drafted into the Test team following a spate of injuries.

Rose leaves for England in April to fulfil a league contract knowing that time maybe running out.

I love my cricket. I'm still going to be playing my cricket, even if I'm not playing for West Indies or Jamaica, he said. Your main aim is to always play for your country and I'm looking forward to playing for Jamaica and West Indies again.

© The Barbados Nation