Court hears Black lost international place after attack

West Indian fast bowler Marlon Black lost his place in international cricket as well as income of $A100,000 following an attack on him early this year, a court in Melbourne was told today.

Three men - Brian Siali, 24, of the Melbourne suburb of Burwood; Gideon Tuinauvai, 21, also of Burwood, and Sione Puamau, 21, of Ringwood - have pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious injury in the assault that took place on 11 February outside Colonial Stadium.

The Victorian County Court heard that Black was punched and kicked repeatedly to the head and body by the three men and struck with a garden stake before being left unconscious.

Crown prosecutor Jack Vandersteen stated that Black took four months to recover from the beating.

Mr Vandersteen added that his client had been forced out of the West Indian team's home series against South Africa (which began in March) as a result and that he had suffered severe financial and emotional loss.

Black, 26, has played in a total of four Tests and four One-Day Internationals for West Indies, and has also been a member of Trinidad & Tobago representative sides since 1993-94. He appeared in each of the first three matches on West Indies' five-Test tour of Australia last summer, claiming 4/83 in Brisbane on his international debut.

The pre-sentencing hearing is continuing.