Marlon Samuels unfazed by bowling action criticism – Cricket News Update
According to Melbourne Renegades coach Simon Helmot, West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels, who is currently affiliated with the Renegades in the ongoing Big Bash League in Australia, has remained unaffected in the aftermath of Darren Lehmann’s recent criticism regarding Samuels’ bowling action.
“He hasn’t worried about them at all, he’s pushed them to the side,” said Helmot, on the eve of the Renegades’ upcoming match against the Adelaide Strikers, due to be played at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne on January 2.
“Nothing much fazes Marlon, as you’ve probably seen ... no doubt you don’t like those things being said, but he hasn’t concerned himself with that at all,” Helmot added.
Concerns regarding Samuels’ bowling action were openly voiced by Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann, who later found himself fine $3000 and suspended for two years after having expressed his opinions on the issue.
Samuels, meanwhile, remains unfazed. The 31-year-old has had his share of controversies in his career so far, including a 2-year suspension from the game for having links to an Indian bookmaker. However, since having made his return, Samuels has gone on to perform remarkably for the West Indies, and has displayed plenty of potential as a middle-order batsman, in addition to having developed his right-arm off-spin. He was also the Player of the Match in the ICC World Twenty20 final in Sri Lanka during 2012, where the Windies went on to clinch the title thanks to Samuels’ heroics.
Currently in Australia with the Renegades, Samuels has had a decent but not remarkable run with the BBL franchise so far, having picked up 4 wickets in the four games he has played, in addition to having scored a total of 40 runs. Alongside his on-field contributions, Helmot pointed out that Samuels was a positive influence, and a much-valued member of the squad.
“He’s a terrific person around our Renegades environment,” the Renegades coach pointed out. “He’s a quietly-mannered fellow but he really buys into the program, to the team strategy, to the coaching.
“To use a quote from Finchy (Renegades skipper Aaron Finch), he’s a calming influence out on the ground ... We’re really looking forward to him having a really good second half in the tournament.”