Barbados seamer Pedro Collins believes he still has a role to play in the West Indies test team despite being out of the reckoning for the last four years.

Speaking with the Observer after last month’s Chris Gayle 15/15 Pro Cricket Festival in Discovery Bay, St Ann, Collins said that his aim is to force his way back into the senior regional set-up.

“Hopefully I get the chance to play for West Indies again because I have a lot to offer to West Indies cricket. I want to make the Barbados four-day team (later this season) and show the (West Indies) selectors what I can do and try and gain selection for upcoming tours,” said the 34-year-old.

The left-armer was the top fast bowler in last season’s four-day regional tournament, capturing 26 wickets in six matches at an average of 17.53 to guide Barbados to second-place behind champions Jamaica.

The out-of-favour West Indies bowler has taken 106 Test wickets in 32 matches at a less than impressive 34.63, but he explained that he has gained wisdom and patience over the years.

“I’m in pretty good form and as you get older as a bowler you learn a lot and you become more patient. I’m doing a lot of work and I still do a lot of training to keep as fit as possible. I’ve really been working hard at my game the last couple of seasons,” he said.

After a two-year spell with English County team Surrey as a Kolpak player, Collins followed up with a successful stint at Middlesex last season, but changes in the law has made him ineligible for the 2011 Championship year.

The Kolpak ruling had allowed players from countries with associate trade agreements with the European Union (EU) not to be classed as ‘overseas’ players.

However, the new rules to be introduced to the County Championship insist that non-EU players represent their home country in at least one Test over the last two years or five in the last five. Failing that, the player would have had to play the last four successive seasons of County Championship cricket.

Collins did not qualify on either of these criteria, having played the last of his three Tests for the West Indies back in 2006, while he has only featured in the last three seasons of domestic cricket in England.

While a combination of modest form and his county contract has kept him out of contention for a place in the regional team over recent years, the Barbadian is now determined to grab the attention of the West Indies selectors.

“I was available to play (for West Indies) last year but wasn’t selected, so if I’m picked to play for Barbados this season I hope to do even better to keep the selectors looking. When that chance comes again and I hope it comes sooner (rather) than later, I want to make the most of it, but I know it’s going to be difficult,” he said.