OTD| West Indies’ T20 World Cup star Marlon Samuels was born in 1982

Marlon Samuels – the torchbearer of West Indies’ glory in two T20 World Cups – was born on this day (February 5) in 1982. Samuels’ career was full of controversies, but that did not overshadow his heroics and achievements in international cricket. He started representing the Windies in 2000 and even at the age of 19, he was deemed a prodigy by many for obvious reasons. 

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Samuels made his Test debut against Australia and ODI debut against Sri Lanka. The right-handed batter and a handy off-spinner took another seven years to make his T20I debut against England. The 42-year-old went on to play 71 tests, 204 ODIs, and 67 T20Is for West Indies before announcing his international retirement in November 2020. 

The former ODI captain has amassed more than 11000 runs across formats. He scored 3917 runs in the longest format with 7 centuries and a best score of 260. Samuels did not have a consistent run in the ODI team but made over 5000 runs at an average of 32.98, including 10 centuries and 28 half-centuries. The batting all-rounder has scored 1611 runs including 10 fifties in 20-over cricket – a format for which he will always be remembered in Windies cricket history. 

Marlon Samuels – A man for the big stage 

Samuels was part of both West Indies squads which won the T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016. In fact, he was a key member of the team and won the Man of the Match in the finals of both tournaments, becoming the first man to achieve the feat. The No. 3 batter scored 78 runs off 56 balls to help his side clinch their maiden T20 World title. It was Samuels’ 85 off 66 balls that set the stage for Carlos Brathwaite to unleash the beast inside him against Ben Stokes in 2016. 

In recognition of his achievements, Samuels was named one of the 2013 Wisden Cricketers of the Year. In 2016, he was named ODI Player of the Year and Cricketer of the Year by the West Indies Cricket Board. Meanwhile, the star is currently facing a six-year ban from all forms of cricket for breaching the anti-corruption code.