West Indies’ batsman Marlon Samuels was down and out a couple of years ago but in Sunday’s World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka, he was having so much fun he invented a new pat-down dance routine.
That’s how Samuels rolls these days, described by skipper Darren Sammy as Mr Cool in a team full of laid-back characters.
Samuels crowned his successful comeback from a two-year ban over match-fixing allegations with a man-of-the-match performance, hitting 78 off 56 balls including six sixes.
The Windies amazingly recovered from 2-32 after 10 overs to score 6-137 and bowl Sri Lanka out for 101.
“My career has had some ups and downs, a lot of tough times,” Samuels said.
“I try to let them pass and slide so me being under pressure on a cricket field is nothing compared to what I’ve been through off the field.
“I use everything that has happened to me, all the tough times, I’m not someone who will ever give up.
“I always say ‘never die’. The person that I am deep down inside, that is the reason why I’m still here playing cricket and not giving up.
“I have a family that believe in me so if outsiders don’t believe in me, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Samuels says the win is a victory for the Caribbean people who have embraced their cricket team.
“It means the world to us,” he said.
“We’re here today to show the world that West Indies cricket is back.
“We have good players and players who can bring back a lot of fans to come and watch us.
“You know the West Indies. We will celebrate as long as possible and enjoy the moment because we haven’t won a major title for a long time (1979 50-over World Cup).”
Samuels celebrated taking a wicket in theatrical style, standing up straight and encouraging teammates including the super-cool Chris Gayle to pat him down.
Sammy said the celebration wasn’t planned.
“Marlon is probably one of the coolest guys around,” Sammy said.
“He pointed to his pocket. That means he got the guy and he got the wicket in his pocket and so we dusted it off.
“And then he said dust off his shirt, so we dusted off his shirt.”
