Marlon Samuels

Marlon Nathaniel Samuels (born 5 February 1981) is a Jamaican former cricketer who played internationally for the West Indies in all three formats, and a former ODI captain.

He is a right-handed middle order batsman and an off-spinner.

During January 1981, Samuels was born in Kingston to parents Philip and Daphne.

He has seven siblings; four brothers and three sisters.

As well the younger brother of Robert Samuels, a former cricketer who played for the Windies.

As well he attended Kingston College and soon became a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club.

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 the same year.

During the West Indies' 2000 tour of Australia, Samuels scored 60 not out and 46 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in his second test match.

He went on to score his maiden Test hundred at Kolkata against the Indians in 2002/03.

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.

During the West Indies tour of Australia, on 9 October 2005, Samuels registered his highest first-class score with an innings of 257.

It was made in a tour match against Queensland 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.

He played in two Tests on the tour of Australia in 2005, with a highest score of 29, before he was sent home with a knee injury.

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 was involved in the run-out of Brian Lara in his last international match, against England during the 2007 World Cup.

Lara was on 18, when Samuels signalled for a quick run but was unable to reach the other wicket in time as Kevin Pietersen underarmed the ball to hit the stumps.

After the World Cup, the West Indies toured England in May.

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.

He was a key member of the West Indies team that won the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 and 2016 ICC World Twenty20, and was named man of the match in the final of both tournaments, becoming the first man to achieve the feat.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board founded 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.

He was the team's highest run-scorer with 242 from 11 innings in the competition.

In February 2012, Samuels signed a contract with Pune Warriors India to play for them in the 2012 and 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 2012 IPL clashed with Australia's tour of the West Indies, and Samuels was granted permission to skip the three Test series and play in the league.

During the tournament, he was reported for having a suspect bowling action, and was suspended from bowling for the rest of the competition.

In October 2012, Samuels was selected for the Melbourne Renegades in the 2012/2013 Big Bash T20 League.

In 2013 he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

He was one of the franchise players for the inaugural Caribbean Premier League.

In 2016 the West Indies Cricket Board named Samuels as the ODI Player of the Year and the Cricketer of the Year.

Samuels helped Peshawar Zalmi to win the 2017 Pakistan Super League, and Kowloon Cantons to win the 2017 Hong Kong T20 Blitz.

Despite his then recent success, he was not selected until the 8th round of the 2017 Caribbean Premier League draft, when he was picked up by the St Lucia Stars.

Samuels first played for the Windies at two successive U19 Cricket World Cups.

On 4 November 2020, Samuels announced his retirement from professional cricket.

He had already informed CWI about his retirement in June 2020.