The Story Behind Marlon's Red Kerchief

Jamaican middle-order batsman, Marlon Samuels, has come to the defence of the personality of West Indies batting star, Brian Lara.

"Lara is a big supporter to me, he's a wonderful person ... a nice guy, no matter what people say," Samuels declared yesterday during an interview with the director of Sports at the RJR Group, Simon Croskill, on Radio Two FM.

Samuels and his U.S.-based agent, John Pinnock, who had returned to the island from the USA only hours earlier, along with Dr Akshai Mansingh, were guests on a specially arranged Sports Call programme between 5:00 and 7:15pm.

"People tend to say bad things about other people without knowing them, but when they get to know them and talk to them it is a different thing," Samuels added in reference to Lara.

The Melbourne player, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, said on his first Test tour in Australia three years ago, Lara gave him tips about his batting and his approach to the game.

He recalled a conversation with Lara during his second Test in Australia: "I came out with my collars down and Lara asked me 'how I come out with my collars down when I come out with my collars up in the first innings?' He advised me to keep my collars up and keep the confidence."

Still, despite his obvious respect for Lara, Samuels doesn't pattern himself off the double world record-holder "because he's a left hander".

He says he looks to emulate India's Sachin (Tendulkar) and Waugh (Steve).

Samuels' admiration for the gritty Asutralian Test skipper grew on the Australian tour.

"Steve Waugh is the coolest person I've ever met in my entire life," Samuels said. He recounted the story of why he waved a piece of rag given to him by Waugh after registering his maiden One-Day century in India late last year.

"I saw Steve with a piece of rag hanging out of his pocket and I asked him what was the reason behind the rag, but he didn't answer. I asked again and he got tired of me asking. (He) told me he has had it throughout his long career and it was his good luck charm," Samuels said.

At the end of the series, Waugh, in the presence of players from both teams, cut off a piece of the rag and handed it to Samuels, while wishing him success.

Samuels said he never leaves the piece of rag.

The young batsman also suggested that his captain's (Carl Hooper's) stylish approach to batting may have also influenced his career. "Probably" he replied to Crosskill's specific question "... he's one of the easiest batsmen I've ever seen."