KINGSTON – Marlon Samuels has vowed to become the No. 1 batsman in Test cricket following his starring role that helped raise the West Indies’ profile again.
Samuels has promised to work hard at further improving his game after playing a leading role in the West Indies securing the ICC Twenty20 trophy Sunday.
His top score of 78 runs and one for 15 earned him Man Of The Match and was crucial in the Windies’ 36-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the final.
The 31-year-old batsman, who has played 39 Test matches with an average of 32.83, is focused on claiming the top spot in Test cricket.
“I want to be No. 1, and I will continue to work hard because I want to be No.1 before I finish,” Samuels told journalists at the Normal Manley International Airport Wednesday.
“I have a lot of plans and the bar continues to rise, especially when I achieve my goals.
“So what I can say is, look out for a more mature cricketer, and an improved cricketer, and I will just continue to work as hard as possible.”
Samuels has made three hundreds and 15 half-centuries with a top score of 117 and is aiming for his first double and triple century in the near future.
“The world hasn’t seen a double century or a triple century from me as yet, so look forward for them and as soon as possible,” he promised.
“Every time, I talk things before it happens, so you can see by now I like to put myself under pressure . . . . That’s how I bring out the best in me.”
Samuels is enjoying an exciting return to international cricket after serving a two-year ban that ended in 2010.
Indian police had accused him of giving team information to a known bookie prior to a One-Day International between the West Indies and India in 2007.
“For you to have been playing something since age 12 and then for someone to tell you that you can’t play for two years, words can’t explain how tough that is, but nevertheless, I am back with my first love, which is cricket,” Samuels said.
“I always loved Test cricket and I continue to love Test cricket. The T20 is exciting, brings a lot of new fans, but Test cricket continues to keep the older people. I think you are more recognized in the world as a Test cricketer.”
Meanwhile, former West Indies captain Chris Gayle said he hoped the team’s T20 triumph would be the catalyst for more success.
“We are very happy to be champions and, hopefully, this is the start of a new beginning for West Indies cricket,” he said.
Gayle, the second highest run-scorer in the tournament, said he was happy to be back on the team contributing in all areas of the sport.
“I am a true professional, so I keep it real and what I was there to do I did it. It was business, just one aim, one objective, which we accomplished.
“Whatever input I could share off the field or on the field, which I did, they put into good use and at the end of the day it worked and everybody came home really happy and proud.”
The 33-year-old Gayle amassed 219 runs at an average of 54.75 with a strike rate of 165.90.
He also thanked Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for her role in successfully lobbying the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for his reinstatement on the regional team. (EZS/CMC)
