Marlon Samuels- A player destined for big things

West Indies, a team which had ruled the world cricket for nearly two decades are back to its glory. It’s been an amazing year for the Caribbean as they won all three ICC trophies in every department. First, the under 19 boys snatched the trophy from India. On a single day, both the men and women clinched the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 at historic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

West Indies skipper enforced his name to the record books with Clive Lloyd, who won the first two world cup for the country. West Indies under Sammy won the title in 2012, beating Sri Lanka in their own back yard and now in 2016 against England at Kolkata. The journey from 2012 to 2016 has been eventful for the team. But the driver of their winning caravan has been Marlon Samuels.

Samuels has a nag of scoring runs in big finals for the team. In 2012, West Indies were reeling for 22 for 2 after 8 overs at Colombo and struggling to score runs of Malinga. Sammy and his boys recovered to score 137 runs in their stipulated 20 overs. Skipper Darren Sammy provided some late surge and Samuels scored 78 from 56 balls. The ball was turning square, Sunil Narine used it well to demolish the hosts. The visitors won the match by 37 runs to clinch their first ICC trophy after 33 years.

In 2016, the West Indies were down to three wickets for just 11 runs in third over while chasing 156 runs in finals. It was Samuels again who came to rescue and scored 85 of 66 balls with 9 boundaries and 2 maximums. He laid the platform for others to score and Carlos Brathwaite hoisted Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the last over to win the second title for the team.

Samuels joined the West Indian team as an all-rounder in 2000-01.West Indies were routed 5-0 by Australia but the way this teenager handled the greatest bowling attack, compelled the great Steve Waugh to part with a part of his lucky red rag. It’s been sixteen years and still he is going on. He is destined for big things.