MARLON SAMUELS
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, (CMC):
MARLON SAMUELS is keen to prove that he is a team player after an impressive first innings knock of 87 for West Indies against India on his return to Test cricket.
In and out of the side ever since he made his debut against Australia at Adelaide in December 2000, the 25-year-old batting all-rounder not only played attractively but also passed 1,000 runs in his 22nd Test as West Indies piled up a big first innings total of 581 all out on the third day of the third Test at Warner Park Stadium on Saturday.
West Indies won 4-1 but it was his first Test - at cricket's newest Test venue - since November 2005 when he turned out against Australia at Hobart in 2005 before having to return home prematurely because of a knee injury.
He and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was left high and dry on 97, added 156 for the sixth wicket after West Indies slipped from 356 for two to 406 for five.
Samuels struck eight fours and three sixes as he occupied the crease for 159 balls. He now has 1,017 runs at an average of 29.91.
"I think it was a pretty good innings based on a team effort and what the team required at the moment," Samuels told CMC CricketPlus at the close of play on Saturday.
"I went out there and did what the coaches wanted. Unfortu-nately I didn't go on and make a hundred but I guess I was instructed to step it up a little bit and that is what I tried to do as much as possible for the team. That's just the game."
NEEDED TO STEP UP
After West Indies started the third day on 420 for five with Chanderpaul on 24 and Samuels eight, the pair managed to score freely in the first hour but then slowed to take the score to 536 for five by lunch.
Suddenly, Samuels started to open his shoulders before falling to a catch at deep midwicket off occasional off-spinner Virender Sehwag.
Asked if he felt he and Chanderpaul could have accelerated more in the pre-lunch session, Samuels responded: "Sometimes in cricket that's the passage they were bowling. I think it was pretty good bowling but unfortunately we weren't turning over the strike as much as possible, but at the end we realised that we were scoring a little bit slow and needed to step it up as much as possible."
And is he happy, batting at number seven behind another all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo.
"Put me at any number right now and I am happy right there because batting at seven is still a job to be done and I am here to do the job so whatever number I bat, all depends on the situation, I go out there and do my best," Samuels said.
The last two days could find Samuels having to do a fair amount of bowling with his off-breaks - a challenge he is looking forward to.
"I have been bowling well. Unfortunately I didn't get the runs that I wanted to get in the one-days but I still played an important part and I felt disappointed being left out (of the first two Tests) so now given the chance again, I am just going to grab this opportunity with both hands and come out here and do my best.
"I am here to do a job so I just have to be more consistent in bowling here on this pitch because it is still a pretty good batting pitch so consistency is going to be the key right here.
"They put a bit of grass on it but it is still playing like in the one-day (May 23). It is still a beautiful turf, good for batting and I think with a couple more days to go it's going to be hard work for our bowlers to get these batsmen out on this pitch," Samuels asserted.
Samuels conceded that he should be holding a more settled place in the side.
"I have been in and out but because of all kinds of reasons. I think of those reasons right now and the same set of people, they are probably giving me a break right now, so I am here to play some cricket and that's all I want to do.
"So now I am playing cricket free, all the politics is going to be put aside from me. It's just for me to come now and play because I am given the chance now to play and that's all I wanted for the longest while."
PERSONAL DECISION
Samuels also cleared the air on recent reports that he opted out of the forthcoming West Indies 'A' team tour of England for personal reasons.
"It is not really a personal decision. I have spoken to the West Indies Cricket Board and the coach a month before. I told them that I have personal reasons and I wouldn't be able to make the 'A' team tour and they still went and selected me in the team, and they just said that all I needed to do was send in a letter and all is well.
"I just need to send a letter and they would just cancel me from the team but no 'X' will be against my name and that's what I am required to do. It is very personal as I explained to the coach. I care not to say right now (the reasons) because I am putting them behind me."
No wonder Samuels wants to look ahead now.
