Samuels cleared of serious knee damage

Marlon Samuels was able to take the field on the third day at Hobart © Getty Images

Marlon Samuels has been cleared of serious knee damage after being hit while batting on Thursday. Samuels was sent for a scan on his troublesome left knee after being unable to field yesterday and today, and he batted with a runner to be 2 not out as West Indies finished at 4 for 82.

Knee problems have cut short Samuels's 20-Test career and he was confident he had overcome the degenerative issue after he left the tour of South Africa in 2003-04 to have surgery in the United States. "I started out well, but if you know my story injury has played a major part in my career," he said before the first Test. "I've been working very hard on my knee so I can play as much as possible."

Samuels began the current tour with 257 in the first-class warm-up against Queensland but like most of West Indies' batsmen he has struggled to cope with Australia's pace attack. Samuels made 1 and 3 not out at the Gabba and reached 5 in the first-innings as West Indies were dismissed for 149.