Melbourne Stars’ batsman Cameron White says he finds it remarkable that Marlon Samuels can escape with a reprimand for hurling his bat at Shane Warne.
The BBL finally handed down a verdict on Monday night on a charge of unbecoming behaviour levelled against Melbourne Renegades’ batsman Samuels following their heated Melbourne derby on January 6.
An underarm throw from Warne hit Samuels, which prompted the West Indian import to hurl his bat in the direction of Warne.
Cricket Australia Commissioner John Price said in his findings from the code-of-behaviour hearing that Samuels had been officially reprimanded.
“The player’s conduct resulted from extreme provocation,” Price said.
The hearing had been delayed because Samuels suffered a fractured eye socket during his innings against the Stars and has been recuperating before heading home to the West Indies on Tuesday.
Samuels is still complaining the Stars’ players didn’t show him enough love while he was laying on the turf injured.
White, however, has refused to apologise for not going to the aid of Samuels.
White is also baffled at how Samuels has avoided suspension.
“Being provoked, I don’t think you can use that as an excuse,” White told reporters on Tuesday.
“It’s remarkable, isn’t it? How many times have you seen someone throw their cricket bat on a cricket field and get (reprimanded) for being extremely provoked?
“I’ve never seen it before. That’s what the judiciary came up with.”
Samuels says he’s staggered the bowler Lasith Malinga was the only Stars’ player to ask about his welfare after he was struck in the eye.
“The rest of the players, what were you doing? It’s not a war – it’s a game,” Samuels told Fairfax Media.
“We’re here to entertain people, but we’re here to show love to one another as cricketers as well.”
But White says it was just one of those things in the heat of battle.
“I don’t think he’s very well-liked, definitely not just from the Stars’ point of view but probably in Australian cricket,” White said.
“People think he carries on a bit.
“There’s probably a few reasons (the Stars’ players didn’t check on his welfare). We were quite busy.”
Samuels says he was shocked at the antics of the high-profile Warne, the face of the tournament. The veteran swore at Samuels and grabbed at his shirt.
“He was a very desperate man doing desperate things,” Samuels said.
“I was able to come out on top with him behaving the way that he was behaving.
“He’s supposed to be a legend in Australia. What he did was give me the stripes, so I am the legend now.”
Adam
Guest
warne had no right to take it as far as he did but samuels is a proven trouble maker, darren berry and darren lehman also had run in with samuels during the bbl, during the recent t20 world cup in srilanka, shane watson had a run in with samuels. during the last ipl sameuls had conflicts with some of his Pune warriors team mates, all this just after resuming cricket after a two year ban after receiving money from a book maker for giving away match information. he may have been a target in some of those altercations but why he is involved in so many?
gaffa
Guest
And Warne has done time for drug use so whar...
Rowdy
Guest
I don't thinks Warne or Samuels look good from this. But CA comes off worst - they seem to be delighted!
Calum
Guest
Haha - it is pretty hard to bring the BBL 'into disrepute' any more than it does all by itself. I'm inclined to agree with Jutsie, from what I saw the bat was nowhere near warne, he just threw it away in a bit of 'come on then' style. And to not go to the aid of an injured player.... Whether he chucks it or not is irrelevant. It is just not a good look, not a good look at all.
formeropenside
Guest
How can you bring cricket into disrepute while playing 20/20? Merely playing the game is brnging cricket into disrepute. But no one here has covered themself in any glory. Lets not forget Samuels has done time for match fixing, as well as having as suspect action.
Aduardo
Guest
Hey Cameron! Less talking, more performing.......
Paul S
Guest
Not really sure what chucking has to do with this - if Samuels is dodgey then it's up to the officials and umpires to sort it out, not Warne and his lackey White. Or do they think only players that are personally approved by them be allowed to play?
Jutsie
Guest
Twenty 20 cricket has been a farce from the get go, if you didnt have international draw cards like samuels playing no one would bother to watch what is basically a glorified exhibition match.
Jutsie
Guest
Samuels did not throw his bat at warne he threw the bat in frustration to indicate he was fed up with warne's antics, cricket supporters around the globe share he is view. Warne does not have the capability to grow old gracefully and more than throwing the ball his antagonistic shirt grabbing and finger pointing in the previous over was embarrassing, I agree with samuels if I was in that position I would have felt like cloberring warne too. If cameron white thinks samuels "carries on a bit" what does he think of his good mate warnie?
The Dish
Guest
So Samuels had no choice but to throw his bat? You are right though, it is different from a fast bowler hurling the ball back, the fast bowler usually throws it at the batsmen much harder. I think everyone comes out of this looking bad. Although whilst I may not agree, I can see where White is coming from but what is Samuels on about "So I am the legend now"?
Nick
Roar Guru
@jameswrn and Tony Tea You two are way off the mark here. Shane Warne deliberately provoked Samuels, and irrespective of whether the 'lobbed' ball was going to hurt or not, I have NEVER seen an incident like that on a cricket field...an actual calculated and systematic attempt to provoke someone. It's far different from when a fast bowler snaps and hurls a ball back, as it was never premeditated, just a spur of the moment venting of rage. Yes, Samuels should have been given a bit more than a reprimand. Warne should have been given an extra match suspension for not showing the slightest bit of sportsmanship when Samuels got hurt. It is sad that only another international cricketer came to his aid. Cameron White is a talentless disgrace.
josh
Roar Rookie
Cameron White isn't a patch on the player he was.
jameswm
Guest
Warne didn't "throw" the ball at Samuels. He lobbed it. A throw is overarm. It was never going to hurt the slightest bit. It was intended to annoy and stir Samuels. Don't make it more than it was. Both Warne and Samuels should have got a lot more than they did.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Wow. It looks like everyone is a loser out of this
Rellum
Roar Guru
Those are disgraceful comments from White. Shows what type of person he must be. He may not like Samuels, but you always check on an injured person, let alone opposition player.
Sailosi
Guest
This is a terribly sad look for cricket, cricket in Australia and Cameron White. Marlon Samuels did not behave in a manner that was in the spirit of cricket but the actions of the Stars players after the incident was disgraceful. To make these stupid assumptions that Marlon Samuels isn't well liked and to not show a seriously injured player a slither of compassion is both rude and childish. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Happy Hooker
Guest
White is an under achiever that would say anything in defence of his mate Shane Warne. Samuels did not hurl his bat AT Warne, whereas Warne deliberately through the ball at Samuels. The judiciary got it right in the case of Samuels, and went too easy on Warne.
Lindsay
Guest
Cameron White should be charged with a disciplinary offence for his comments on the penalty given to Samuels. Why does he presume to speak for "australian cricket"? We were too "busy" to be concerned about an opponent's fractured eye socket??? He is a disgrace and unfortunately only reinforces the 'ugly Australian' stereotype.
Tony Tea
Guest
So, Hurlem Samuels is allowed to both chuck the ball AND chuck the bat (underarm). BBL = farce.
Nick
Guest
White is an absolute idiot. Guy has a fractured eye socket and you don't bother with him because you think he "carries on a bit"?. Shameful. But to be honest, exactly what one might expect from someone like him