MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC- West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has been charged with two offences following his ugly clash with Shane Warne during a match between Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars in therememebr u h Australian Big Bash league on Sunday.
Samuels, who plays for the Melbourne Renegades, has been charged with engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player and unbecoming behavior.
The second charge breaches Cricket Australia’s Code of Behaviour which states that “players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket”.
The clash, which happened in phases and which overshadowed the game, involved shirt grabbing, bat and ball throwing as well as the use of expletives.
Cricket Australia confirmed the list of charges yesterday, most of which were slapped on Warne, captain of Melbourne Stars.
Warne was found guilty of three: showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision; engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player; and using obscene, offensive or generally insulting language to another player.
The world class spinner was found not guilty of throwing the ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner.
Warne has been suspended for one match and was fined $4500 following the fracas at the MCG, while Cricket Australia is yet to confirm a time for Samuels’ hearing.
Samuels ended the match with a potentially serious injury to his eye socket after he top-edged a Lasith Malinga delivery through the grille of his helmet.
A suspension may not affect his availability.
The Renegades coach Simon Helmot said Samuels was recovering at the team hotel and would be taking some time off to care for his injury.
“We’re now waiting for the swelling around his eye to subside before determining the full extent of the blow,” Helmot said.
“We are also assessing what, if anything, this means in terms of squad composition for the remainder of the tournament and will take action to source an international replacement if necessary.”
Samuels was confronted physically and verbally by Warne during the Melbourne Renegades innings at the MCG, perhaps in retaliation for an incident that had occurred earlier during the Melbourne Stars innings.
During that incident, Samuels appeared to grab David Hussey by the shirt and prevented him taking off for a second run.
“You want to grab some more people? F*** you Marlon.” Shouted Warne, as he came down to pitch to confront Samuels who has just changed his mind about attempting a run.
Warne then grabbed Samuels’ shirt and pointed at him threateningly.
The clash continued in the next over when Warne under-armed a ball into the body of Samuels, who was in his crease not attempting a run.
Samuels responded by tossing his bat down the pitch, in the direction of Warne.
Warne’s suspension means he will miss the Stars’ last qualifying match against the Sydney Thunder today to advance to the semi-finals, are one of four sides locked together on four wins in the middle of the points table.
Renegades secured their semi-final birth even before winning Sunday’s game against the stars