Samuels injured, may miss West Indies tour of Australia

Melbourne, Jan 9 (IANS): All-rounder Marlon Samuels is almost certain to miss the West Indies’ one-day series tour of Australia next month, after suffering an eye injury during a game in the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

Samuels has already been replaced by England opener Alex Hales in the Melbourne Renegades squad for the remainder of the Big Bash League season and is highly unlikely to represent the Windies in Australia next month, reports CMC.

The West Indies’ five-match one-day series begins in Perth Feb 1, placing the all-rounder in doubt for the whole Australian summer.

He remains holed up in his hotel room with swelling and bruising around his eye after edging a ball from Lasith Malinga through the grill of his helmet into his face.

Renegades captain Aaron Finch has been quoted as saying the West Indian star had a suspected fractured eye socket but the extent of his injury has still not been determined because of the swelling.

Samuels has been ordered by doctors to remain as still as possible to avoid the chance of bursting a blood vessel and causing permanent damage to his vision.

It appears that he has also been ordered not to fly for a month and is not likely to leave his hotel room for weeks until given the medical all-clear.

Samuels was at the centre of Sunday night’s Big Bash League blow-up with Melbourne stars’ captain Shane Warne and faces two disciplinary charges.

But Cricket Australia is yet to set a time for the hearing out of growing concerns for his injury.