When Marlon Samuels almost gave up cricket post the dark days of 2007
Marlon Samuels is an interesting character. His quick 92 on Monday helped West Indies pull off rare victory against the world No. 1 ODI side Australia. Not long back, a sensational knock from him saw the Caribbean side lift the ICC World T20 2016 for the second time. Even in their maiden win in ICC World T20 2012, it was a classic from him that saw the side win. When we look at Samuels’ career that has lasted a decade and half, we often feel he could have achieved much more.
Samuels’ career has seen many ups and downs but none as low as the bookie incident in 2007. The Jamaican all-rounder was banned for two years for allegedly passing on information to an alleged bookie named Mukesh Kochhar.
Samuels knew Kochhar since 2002 and in the ODI series against India in 2007, Samuels was not happy with hotel food. It was Kochhar, who had then come to his rescue. During their conversation, they talked about conditions and casually Samuels spoke about the opening bowlers and team composition. ALSO READ: Marlon Samuels-Shane Warne battle further intensifies; the Jamaican has the last laugh
His information turned out to be correct but Samuels had no clue that Kochhar was a bookie. When the tour ended, Samuels stayed back along with Chris Gayle for a promotional shoot and his credit card was declined when he tried to settle his hotel bill. Kochhar send an aide Yogesh Arora to help him settle the bill. That money transaction added more to the story.
Michael Holding’s support
Many do not know it that Jamaican legend Michael Holding and Samuels share quite a friendship. Holding’s mother taught a young Samuels at school and later he went to play for the famous Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) in Jamaica. As a kid, Samuels was a reserved boy who excelled in cricket more than studies.
After Samuels was banned, it was Holding and MCC member and family friend Donald McNaughton who helped Samuels come out of the depression. Quitting the game was one of the many thoughts, and things turned worse when someone he trusted with his house keys stole money and friends turned back on him. He did not pick up a bat for over a year and half.
In a report from Indian Express, Holding jumped into Samuels defence, “I have spent hours and hours on this, talking to people involved, and I can say that the case wouldn’t have passed in a proper court. He is innocent.”
Holding added, “He wanted to quit. I told him, ‘that’s rubbish Marlon. You haven’t done anything wrong, why are you running away from the only thing you love?’ Donald spent a lot of time with him, engaging him with life around him, taking him out, and constantly mentoring him.”
Only when four months remained for his ban to end, he picked up the willow again. Why? Samuels finally saw light beneath the tunnel. Initially after the criticism, he thought the world was against him, but things changed and Jamaicans stood behind him. It was McNaughton, who made the cricketer listen to a few shows where the audience supported him. The turning point, he needed and rest is history. READ MORE: Marlon Samuels involved in sledging yet again with Australian cricketers
We know the Samuels, who did not back the then skipper Dwayne Bravo when West Indies abruptly ended their India tour. We know the Samuels, who put his legs on the table during the press conference post-World T20 win. We know the Samuels that got into ugly brawls with Ben Stokes and Shane Warne. Here is something, we do not know and Holding offers more light to the real man
“When you feel people you know have let you down, you can get that way. He was made scapegoat then (2007). He was always more of an introvert, but those times, and incidents with his friends, all that made him wrapped in himself. That is how some people react. That is his nature, it might not be the right thing to do, but when life hits you hard, you cope the way you can,” said Holding in the same Indian Express report.
Post Samuels’ heroics in the World T20 2016 final, former Australian pacer Geoff Lawson made a shocking statement, “Samuels is tied up with some pretty shady people back in the West Indies, he’s a guy you don’t muck around with on or off the field. He’s tied up with the gangs there and it goes well beyond cricket.”
Holding had then shot back, “How can people talk about him like this? What do they know of Samuels? Have they been involved with any street gangs? Do they even know that world to smear-campaign like this? It’s absolute rubbish. People want to bring him down because of their jealousy or some other petty feeling. This is exactly kind of cheap talk that Marlon been raging against, and what’s made him the man he has become.”
Truly, that is the man he has become. There cannot be a sweeter way to star in a win against the No. 1 Australian side, and mind you West Indies are without some of their star players.