Windies coach Simmons throws weight behind misfiring Bravo

Defending Darren Bravo's poor run of form against India in the just-concluded Test series, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has argued that the marquee left-hander had been forced to assume the mantle of senior batsman without gaining adequate experience of having played alongside veteran players in the initial stages of his career.

The 27-year-old endured a below-par series against the Virat Kohli-led side, averaging a meagre 19 from seven innings which included a single half-century. The series also saw his otherwise impressive average dip below 40.

"We talk about Darren Bravo and we talk about him a lot because we can see his potential and where he's supposed to be right now," Simmons was quoted as saying by West Indies Cricket Board website. "But you look at the all the people around his age and what they've come through and the help they've had in the team when they came in.

"You talk about Virat (Kohli) - when Virat came in, look at the players around him and that's where you get your little bit of experience and help from.

"Bravo has had to turn up and be the senior player and I think sometimes that affects people but no doubt about it, he's working extremely hard on trying to get his game together and trying to score runs as he did when he first came into the team."

Bravo made his debut when senior players such as Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul used to play for the national side, but neither of them feature in the current set-up.