January 7, 2013
Melbourne Stars captain, Shane Warne and Renegades batsman Marlon Samuels, face severe disciplinary action over their fiery exchange during the Big Bash League at the MCG.
All fired up: Shane Warne remonstrates with Marlon Samuels. Photo: Getty Images
January 7, 2013
Melbourne Stars captain, Shane Warne and Renegades batsman Marlon Samuels, face severe disciplinary action over their fiery exchange during the Big Bash League at the MCG.
All fired up: Shane Warne remonstrates with Marlon Samuels. Photo: Getty Images
Shane Warne will miss the Melbourne Stars’ crucial Big Bash League clash with Sydney Thunder on Tuesday night after deciding against appealing his one-match ban.
The Stars skipper was fined $4500 and suspended for a game after being found guilty of three charges stemming from a heated exchange with Melbourne Renegades allrounder Marlon Samuels at the MCG on Sunday night.
The spin bowling legend was punished for using obscene language, making inappropriate physical contact with a player or official and showing serious dissent at an umpire's decision.
Warne confronted Samuels physically and verbally during the Melbourne Renegades innings at the MCG, seemingly in retaliation for an incident that had occurred earlier during the Melbourne Stars innings. During that incident, the bowler Samuels grabbed David Hussey by the shirt and prevented him taking off for a second run, a strange act given that Hussey's path had not taken him into contact with Samuels.
Later while Samuels was batting, he took off for a run and turned back, after which Warne came down the pitch and said to Samuels: "You want to grab some more people? F*** you Marlon." Warne, who was wearing a Fox Sports microphone at the time, then grabbed Samuels' shirt, apparently to demonstrate what he felt Samuels had done wrong earlier, and pointed at him threateningly.
The clash continued in the next over when Warne collected the ball running in from the off side and under-armed it into the body of Samuels, who was in his crease not attempting a run. Samuels responded by tossing his bat down the pitch, vaguely in the direction of Warne.
After the penalty was handed down on Monday morning, Warne initially described it as harsh and said he would consider an appeal.
But he later backed down, saying his behavior overstepped the mark and he would back the Stars to beat the Thunder and book a semi-final berth without him.
‘‘I have decided to accept my penalty of a one-match ban. Let’s hope the boys can win tomorrow and we can make the semi-finals,’’ Warne tweeted.
Marlon Samuels throws his bat in front of Shane Warne in a heated exchange. Photo: Getty Images
‘‘Thanks for support guys, sport can be emotional and at times very passionate too. I went to far in trying to stand up for the team.’’
Earlier, Stars batsman Cameron White received a suspended fine of $1000 after he pleaded guilty to showing dissent to an umpire's decision.
Meanwhile, Samuels rested at his hotel nursing severe bruising and swelling around his eye from a Lasith Malinga ball that got through his helmet. Samuels faces two charges stemming from the ugly feud but is not yet well enough to attend a hearing.
The top-placed Renegades will look at replacing Samuels with another overseas player if a suspected broken eye socket ends his Big Bash League campaign.
The Renegades said on Monday they were still to learn the full extent of the damage.
"We're now waiting for the swelling around his eye to subside before determining the full extent of the blow," coach Simon 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.
"You've got to feel for Marlon and we're continuing to do everything we can as a team to support him during his recovery."
Samuels, who was slapped with a two-year international ban for match fixing in 2008, has been in the middle of controversy for much of the BBL season.
Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry is yet to face his CA disciplinary hearing for a heated discussion he had with Samuels during the warm-up for Wednesday night's clash between the two sides.
Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann was slapped with an official reprimand and a $3000 suspended fine for questioning the legality of Samuels' action after his team's loss to the Renegades on December 22.
The Renegades cruised to victory in Sunday night's heated game and are two games clear atop the BBL ladder.
Courtesy: theage
