COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies off-spinner Marlon Samuels will have to undergo testing on his action within two weeks after being reported for having a suspect bowling action, for the third time in seven years.
An International Cricket Council release said yesterday that the match officials report following last week’s first Test in Galle against Sri Lanka “cited concerns about the legality of the 34-year-old’s bowling action.”
Under ICC regulations, Samuels will now be required to have his action tested within 14 days but will be allowed to continue bowling until the results of the tests are disclosed.
Samuels sent down 27 overs in the Galle Test which West Indies lost by an innings and six runs inside four days last Saturday.
He took just one wicket, that of opener Dimuth Karunaratne who top-scored with 186.
The latest incident is the third time Samuels has been reported for having a suspected action. He was banned from bowling after being called in 2008 and after being cleared in 2011, was called again in 2013 and banned from bowling his faster delivery exceeded the 15 degree level permitted by the ICC.
Samuels is a veteran campaigner of 60 Tests and has scored 3568 runs at an average of 35, and taken 41 wickets at an average of 59.
His career was marred by controversy in 2008 when he was banned for two years for inappropriate contact with an Indian bookmaker.
West Indies face Sri Lanka in the Test here at the P Sara Oval starting Thursday.
