Cricket

Sammy forced to bite tongue on Shillingford ban

by
yardie
December 19, 2013

HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) — West Indies captain Darren Sammy has stopped short of openly criticising the suspension of offspinner Shane Shillingford by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Sammy has conceded that he would like to have commented extensively but has held back from direct comments on the decision to ban Shillingford on the grounds that his bowling action was illegal.

“I’d love to spill my guts out and say what I have to say,” Sammy said. “No matter what the situation there is a procedure in which things are done. I’ve always been one whose stuck by the rules. I don’t want to find myself in any compromising situation.”

Reports from Hamilton, New Zealand, say there is a strong sense that the West Indies feel harshly treated after Shillingford, whose doosra and traditional off spin were found to breach the 15-degree limit laid down by the ICC.

Marlon Samuels was allowed to continue his off-break delivery in international cricket, but banned from bowling his quicker balls. Coach Ottis Gibson has said that Shillingford and Samuels will receive the full support of the West Indies Cricket Board.

“I would have loved to say a lot of things, but I’ve always been a diplomatic guy so won’t take part in that. We all have our personal opinions. Some have voiced them and we’ll just put all our energy into this Test,” said Sammy.

“The board and coach and director of cricket at home are going to handle it and I’m backing them to handle it in the best possible way for us as a team and especially for Shilly and Marlon,” Sammy said.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow. We all support Shilly as a team. He’s been through that before and hopefully his mental toughness will carry him through.” It is the second time the Dominican bowler has been suspended from international cricket after a similar suspension in 2010.

The WICB is studying the full report before deciding on their next course of action, but Gibson has said that work to rehabilitate Shillingford’s bowling will begin in the New Year. Sammy and Shillingford both play for the Windward Islands in the WICB regional tournaments.