Published: Apr 04, 2016, 06:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 04, 2016, 06:57 PM (IST)
Melbourne: West Indies players have thrown their support behind veteran batsman Marlon Samuels, who launched a blistering tirade on Australian spin legend Shane Warne after his match-winning performance against England in the pulsating World T20 final. At the time of receiving his Man-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 85-run knock, the 35-year-old said Warne had received what he deserved. “Every team I play for, Shane Warne has a problem with me.” FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs West Indies, ICC World T20 2016, Final at Kolkata
“I don’t know what, I’ve never disrespected him, it seems he has a lot inside him that he needs to come out with. I don’t appreciate the way that he continues to talk about me, and the things he keeps doing. I don’t know, maybe it is because my face is real and his face is not,”Samuels added after West Indies achieved a thrilling four-wicket win over England to become the first side to win the World T20 trophy twice. Samuels’ attack came in the wake of Warne’s recent comments, where he described the Caribbean batsman as ’embarrassing’ and ‘pretty boring’ after he was dismissed for eight during the high-octane semifinal clash against hosts India in Mumbai on Thursday. READ: Marlon Samuels lashes out at Shane Warne following T20 World Cup 2016 win
Justifying Samuels’ nasty attack on Warne, coach Phil Simmons said the former was quite touched at that moment and that his outbursts were the result of his emotions, news.com.au reported. Simmons further said that one cannot keep bashing people and expect nothing in return, pointing out that Samuels’ statement came out at the correct time. Echoing similar views, skipper Darren Sammy said that his side were facing a lot of issues before the tournament and that they now hold the right to express their opinions, especially after proving themselves on the cricket field.
Samuels has had a long history of strained relationship with Warne. It erupted in the second season of the Big Bash League in 2013 when the leg-spinner’s throw from a close range whizzed by Samuels’ face after which Samuels responded angrily by hurling his bat in the bowler’s direction. Earlier, Samuels also received a fine of 30 per cent of his match fee for using abusive and offensive language towards Ben Stokes after Carlos Braithwaite hit the bowler for four successive sixes during the finals.
