Marlon Samuels

Marlon Samuels

Personal information
Full name	Marlon Nathaniel Samuels
Born	(1981-02-05) 5 February 1981 Kingston, Jamaica
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm off break
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	West Indies
Test debut (cap 237)	15 December 2000 v Australia
Last Test	26 November 2011 v India
ODI debut (cap 103)	4 October 2000 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	11 December 2011 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1996/97–2007/08	Jamaica
2010/11–present	Jamaica
2011/12–present	Duronto Rajshahi
2012-present	Pune Warriors India
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	37	125	84	180
Runs scored	1,824	2,973	4,993	4,545
Batting average	29.41	30.64	37.54	32.23
100s/50s	2/13	2/22	9/28	4/34
Top score	105	108*	257	108*
Balls bowled	2,550	3,499	5,494	5,295
Wickets	19	63	49	107
Bowling average	74.89	44.22	57.63	37.36
5 wickets in innings	0	0	1	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	3/74	3/25	5/87	4/21
Catches/stumpings	19/–	34/–	58/–	49/–
Source: Espncricinfo, 20 January 2012

Marlon Nathaniel Samuels (born 5 February 1981) is a West Indian cricketer. Samuels made his Test debut in Australia in 2000, and his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka in Nairobi during the ICC Knockout Trophy in the same year.

He is primarily a right-handed middle order batsman but his sense of balance and off-spin have claimed a number of useful wickets. He has struggled with a knee injury recently, being forced to fly home from the tour of Australia in late 2005.

Career highlights

Samuels scored his maiden Test hundred at Kolkata against the Indians in 2002/03. His innings of 104 helped the West Indies to draw the 3rd Test and was made against the likes of Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. His first ODI ton came in the series which followed and turned out to be a series winning innings. With the series level at 3-3 going into the final match at Vijayawada on 24 November 2002, Samuels smacked 108 not out off just 75 balls. The West Indies finished with 315 and went on to win by 135 runs. On 9 October 2005, Samuels scored his highest first class score with an innings of 257. It was made in a tour match against the Australians at the Gabba. His effort was a record score at the ground, beating Martin Love's 250. Showing his allround abilities, he followed it up with 5 wickets in the next innings.

Against Pakistan at Multan in late 2006, Samuels scored his second ODI century. His unbeaten 100 led the West Indies to victory as they successfully chased the Pakistani total. He fell just short of another century a month later against the Indians in Chennai but his quick fire 98 helped his side chase down India's 268. Samuels also played as part of the Pro Cricket league in the United States for the Chicago Tornadoes. Samuels was chosen as the player to replace the injured West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan in the 2007 npower (UK) Test series against England. Sarwan returned home after picking up a shoulder injury in the 2nd Test at Headingley. On 28 June at the 17th over Samuels scored a massive 6 off of Ryan Sidebottom in the first Twenty20 International between the two sides, hitting the ball out of The Oval.[1]

Marlon Samuels was involved in the run-out of Brian Lara in his last international match, West Indies vs. England in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Lara was on 18, when Marlon signalled for a quick run but wasn't able to reach the other wicket in time as Kevin Pietersen underarmed the ball to hit the stumps. On 4 July Samuels made 77 runs from 104 balls against England in the second Natwest ODI.He and Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a record third wicket partnership of 175 runs at Edgbaston in a game West Indies won. In January 2007, Samuels was named man of the match after scoring 94 and 40 in the first Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth, a match the West Indies won by 128 runs. He went on to score his second Test hundred, in the final match, hitting 105 although it wasn't enough for his side to win the match or the series.

Bookmaker controversy and two-year ban (2008)

Indian police accused Samuels of giving out team information to a known bookie prior to the 1st ODI between the West Indies and India in Nagpur on 21 January 2007. It was claimed that they have taped telephone conversations between a bookmaker, Mukesh Kochchar, and Samuels. The transcript was later released by the police.

After a hearing into the matter the International Cricket Council enforced a mandatory ban on the 27-year-old backdated from 9 May 2008 which kept Samuels out of cricket for two years. He was found guilty of breaking rules designed to stop players betting on matches. Samuels has always maintained his innocence.

Return to cricket (2010–present)

Samuels' two-year ban expired on 9 May 2010 and subsequently returned to playing for Jamaica and West-Indian chief selector Clyde Butts stated that the door was open for Marlon Samuels to serve the West Indies in international cricket provided that he proves himself on the domestic circuit Samuels also stated that he had consistently been in touch with his best friend and West Indies Captain Chris Gayle. He also stated that Gayle was extremely influential in keeping his motivation going. During the 2011 World Cup in February and March, all-rounder Dwayne Bravo suffered an injury and the West Indies Cricket Board asked Samuels to fly out to act as a replacement. Samuels declined, stating that he did not yet feel ready, but that he was targeting a return during India's tour of the West Indies in June and July. Shortly after the World Cup, Sameuls was selected in the West Indies squad to face Pakistan in a Twenty20 International.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board found the six-team Bangladesh Premier League in 2012, a twenty20 tournament to be held in February that year. An auction was held for teams to buy players, and Samuels was bought by the Duronto Rajshahi for $360,000.

Career in IPL

Marlon Samuels has signed a two year contract with Pune Warriors India, the costliest Indian Premier League franchise.

Bowling action

On 25 February 2008 Samuels was suspended from bowling in international cricket until he corrects his bowling action, which has been deemed suspect.

External links

• Cricinfo profile