West Indian middle order batsman, Marlon Samuels, showed his gratitude towards fellow team member, Chris Gayle, recognizing his support during the former’s banned days.
Samuels declared that it was because of Gayle’s support that he remained focused and was able to bounce back from the phase of depression during his two year ban.
The West Indian was banned from playing cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC), after it was found that Samuels had a conversation with a bookie. It was during this wearisome stage that Gayle laid full support to him and the two became best friends.
Samuels said, “He was great motivation. Chris played a huge role in helping me stay focused during those two years, which eventually helped me to stay in tune with my game.”
The 30-year-old batsman found little friends when ICC forbade him from playing. Even his fans and former cricketers turned their backs on him and considered the batsman as a disgrace to West Indian cricket.
However, after having done his time, Samuels is back in the side and is looking solid as ever. In the recently concluded one-day series against the Indians, the batsman showed glimpses of brilliance but could not inspire his side to victory as they lost the event 3-2.
The middle order batsman scored 128 runs and averaged 32 in the ODI series against India.
Gayle and Samuels find each other on the flip side of the coin this time around. It is the right-hander who is playing and his best friend is sitting out in the audience.
The West Indian dynamite, Gayle, is at logger heads with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after his controversial interview.
The 31-year-old was side-lined from the ODI series against India and as far as current progress is concerned it is believed that he will also be ignored for the Test series, which is scheduled to begin from June 20, 2011.
A WICB official said, “The comments made by him [Gayle] in the interview had created much ill-will with team management and unless there was a settling of differences, it would be difficult to see how the parties could harmoniously function.”
Samuels appeared to return the favour to Gayle. The batsman showed his support towards his friend when he ran towards him to celebrate the victory over India, after Kieron Pollard smashed the winning runs in the last ODI.
