Samuels 'joins' Carlton (13 August 1999)

13 August 1999

Samuels 'joins' Carlton

Philip Spooner

Marlon Samuels is to have his first taste of local Division 1 cricket when he turns out tomorrow for United Carlton against E.S.A. Field Pickwick at Black Rock.

The 18-year-old Jamaican, who won the hearts of many locals during the recent Nortel Networks Under-19 tournament, was slated to return home tomorrow after a week-long camp for members of the West Indies Under-19 team, but will play just one game.

"I'm eager and excited," the tall allrounder told WEEKENDSPORT from the team's hotel on Wednesday night. "I would like to do well, actually make a hundred."

The arrangements for Samuels' stay were made by Adrian "Smiley" Bailey, a member of the Carlton Club.

"He (Bailey) saw me during the game at Carlton against Canada and had a chat with me," Samuels said. "He told me he wanted me to play here and things have materialised."

The Courts/Suzuki Division 1 competition resumes tomorrow after a month-long break for the Nortel competitions.

Samuels should feel welcomed in the Carlton team, having played alongside allrounder Marlon Graham on the West Indies Under-19 to South Africa two years ago. This continues the connection with Jamaican players as left-hander Wavel Hinds, who recently gained selection to the West Indies team, played there last year.

Samuels, the brother of former West Indies opener Robert, was expected to return home to play for Melbourne in the Jamaican County Championship, but said he was grateful for the opportunity to stay.

He said it would give him a chance to experience cricket outside of his homeland as well as spend some more time in a country with which he had fallen in love.

Samuels was one of the stars of the Under-19 competitions but said he was disappointed he did not win an individual award.

"I am a bit disappointed that I did not get an award but that's how it is," said the Kingston College graduate. "I thought I could have received the MVP (Most Valuable Player) as I had wickets, runs and catches."

His consolation was that he helped to steer Jamaica to the One-Day title, defeating Barbados handsomely last weekend at Kensington Oval.

In the three-day segment he scored 398 runs at 79.60 per innings, including two centuries. His best was a magnificent 119 in the three-day semifinal against Barbados. He also had 14 wickets with his off-spin and held nine catches.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)