MARLON SAMUELS, the Jamaican all rounder discarded by the West Indies since last year, has announced his retirement from professional cricket having last represented the region in December 2018.

The controversial 39-year-old last week took to the social media platform of Instagram to hit out at former Australia spinner Shane Warne and England’s Ben Stokes, following his long-standing feuds with the pair, as well as slamming some unknown West Indies players.

Kingston-born Samuels, who won two ICC World Twenty20 finals in 2012 and 2016 respectively, was a stylish middle order batsman and bowled right arm off-breaks but constantly ruffled people’s feathers during his long-standing career.

Potential

Failure to live up to his initial potential as a natural stroke player, which resulted in a call-up to the Windies in 2000, as well as twice being banned for what was deemed an illegal bowling action resulted in frustration off the pitch. This sadly led to a string of antics that constantly baffled those involved in the sport, including former players working in the media.

The Kingston College graduate was also brandished with a two-year ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for allegedly receiving money, or a “benefit”, which could bring the sport into disrepute.

The One Day International (ODI) competition at least hold good memories for Samuels, having skippered the Windies at this level and he holds the record for the highest run partnership in the format after amassing 372 against Zimbabwe with fellow Jamaican Chris Gayle during the 2015 World Cup.

Samuels was sidelined with a recurring knee injury since last making the WI squad against Bangladesh two years ago, and he was omitted from the 15-strong squad for the ICC World Cup in April 2019 that included five Jamaicans.

With over 10,000 runs for the Windies (17 centuries) and taking 152 wickets with his rapid off-breaks, Samuels was a talent on the pitch but a loose canon off it.

Unfortunately, following his 2016 accolades from the West Indies Cricket Board as both their ODI Player of the Year and the Cricketer of the Year he failed to live up to expectations on his then experienced shoulders and gradually faded from the international set up having exploded on the scene with the Windies in 2000.