THERE is one topic of conversation Phil Simmons has not brought with him into the Leicestershire dressing-room. It might not even be mentioned when the championship title comes to Grace Road this weekend, as expected.
At the age of 33, Simmons must be one of the most improved players in first-class cricket, as most soldiers in the county circuit now suspect, and he has not returned to the West Indies team. Not even to the fringes. His Leicestershire captain calls him ``a brick'', which is not a misheard insult but praise of the highest degree, a quaint word that is exactly right.
This Trinidadian has had to weather a series of knock-backs by the West Indies, who left him out of last year's England tour, the World Cup and this winter's Australia tour. The World Cup snub was a surprise, but his omission from the England tour hurt most, and, as a finger-wagging exercise, he did make a hundred in each innings against Essex as an injury fill-in.
The first impression of Simmons is of an imposing presence. There are powerful shoulders, those fairy-wing ears, usually a goatee beard and, above all, an almost touching enthusiasm for a life in cricket - this summer as James Whitaker's vice-captain. He is not the willowy Caribbean type and not really a stylist with the bat, but he hits his drives like a rifle crack, delivers the fastest ball in the Leicestershire team and can swoop on slip catches like the best.
``I find it remarkable,'' said Whitaker, ``that the West Indies can leave him out of any squad. All I can say there must be some frigging good players out there. He's very quiet on the subject - he hasn't mentioned it once. He hasn't brought his disappointment about not being in the West Indies team into our dressing-room.''
Whitaker's tone of voice suggested he would not have approved if Simmons had. But the West Indian didn't, and that is the point. It must have been, and still is, tempting for the West Indian to seek some sort of gruff sympathy. Simmons even avoided talking to the media yesterday, fearing distraction and promising to hold court after the final match against Middlesex, which starts today.
It is in Middlesex that Simmons has his family home - in Mill Hill to the north of London - though his base moves to the village of Kibworth when he is required for Leicestershire cricket. He has accepted a new two-year contract, and this winter is spending three months in South Africa coaching and playing at Easterns, near Johannesburg. Then he returns to domestic cricket for Trinidad to try to win back his West Indies place.
Simmons has always had the physique to succeed but not always the technique, as many suspected on his first tour in 1988. His courage, though, could hardly be doubted after his terrible head injury while batting at Bristol, when he needed brain surgery.
His excellent all-round record for the West Indies in 111 one-day games has been offset by a mediocre Test average of only 23.56 in 22 matches, plus a paltry two wickets. Even after making 261, Leicestershire's record individual score, on his county debut two years ago, he struggled to consolidate when his tendency to play across the ball became wider knowledge. This year, as with the Australian players making waves, he has imposed his personality on the county circuit, and his adjusted, straighter method has brought three hundreds and seven fifties.
AND there is the matter of 54 championship wickets, including a career-best six for 14 against Durham last week. His variations are effective, but the bottom line is pace. ``He's the quickest bowler we've got when he cranks it up,'' said Whitaker.
His personality has been a key to Leicestershire's strong season, even for a man of relatively few words. Whitaker said: ``He exudes confidence and is a great person to have around. He's an encourager and motivator and speaks a lot of commonsense. He's a brick, he's brilliant.''
Another colleague said: ``He respects the game of cricket.'' This season the feeling has become mutual.