Marlon Samuels and Ben Stokes have traded words on a number of occasions
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West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has warned his England counterpart Ben Stokes to steer clear of any verbal confrontations during the upcoming five-match ODI series.
Samuels and Stokes have been involved in a fiery rivalry ever since the Jamaica native saluted upon dismissing the 26-year-old in a Test match in Grenada in April 2015.
The last time they met was in the final of the 2016 World Twenty20, where the West Indies defeated England in eye-popping fashion as Carlos Brathwaite smashed four consecutive sixes off the final over of the match, which was bowled by Stokes. Samuels, meanwhile, remained undefeated at the non-striker’s end on 85.
With the two all-rounders set to clash once again later this month, Samuels has called on Stokes to stay silent and not engage in any verbal warfare.
“With me coming to England, he should stay on the boundary when I’m batting, as far away as possible,” Samuels told The Guardian. “As long as he keeps quiet, I won’t start anything, so if anything does happen that means he has said something to me first.
“I’m going to come to England and be a good boy … at least for the start of it. He wanted to take me on a couple of years ago (in the Test where Samuels offered the infamous salute).
“He started something and I told him he better be prepared to finish it. But I saw him during the IPL this year and he didn’t say anything. I hope he can continue on that path. If not, I have things in place.”
However, before the ODI series gets underway on September 19 at Old Trafford, England and the West Indies will both be looking to clinch the Test series, which is currently tied at 1-1 going into the third and final Test at Lord’s.
England dominated in the first Test at Edgbaston, which was the first day-night Test to be held in the country, as they thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 209 runs.
However, the men from the Caribbean bounced back spectacularly and stunned England in the second Test at Headingley, where they triumphed by five wickets.
Weighing in on the first two Tests, Samuels admitted that the Test side is still young and inexperienced, but added that he was glad they silenced their critics in the second Test.
“People were writing off the players but they are young, hungry and showing fight by winning a Test in tough conditions,” he said. “West Indies are not on top and playing the best but the media is too critical, they need to give these youngsters a chance because not every player starts out at the top of their game.
“In history there are greats who started slow, and players who started fast and never last. It’s a game of glorious uncertainty and you have to give guys a chance to shape their destinies. Hopefully Jason (Holder, captain) and the boys can finish it off now.”