Marlon Samuels given 12-month West Indies bowling ban

Marlon Samuels made his Test debut for the West Indies in 2000

West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months because of an illegal action.

Match officials reported the off-spinner, 34, during his side's first Test defeat by Sri Lanka in October.

An independent assessment revealed his elbow extension exceeded the permitted 15 degrees while bowling.

He was handed a year-long ban because he had already been banned from bowling his faster deliveries in December 2013.

An International Cricket Council statement read: "As this report constitutes the player's second suspension within a two-year period, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period.

"Samuels is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of the independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action."

Samuels, who bats in the top order, has taken 145 wickets in 279 matches for his country across Test, one-day and Twenty20 formats, but may continue to play as a specialist batsman.