Sulieman Benn Biography Sulieman Jamaal Benn born 22 July 1981 in Saint James, Barbados is a former West Indian cricketer who represented the West Indies internationally and played first-class cricket for Barbados. Benn was part of the West Indies team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup. Benn, a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, made his debut in the 1999/00 season. In addition to his bowling, he is also a capable left-handed batsman, with a first-class batting average of 17.48. Throughout his career, Benn faced stiff competition for a spot in the Barbados team, which was filled with four West Indian international fast bowlers.
Sulieman Benn Biography
Sulieman Benn is a former West Indies cricketer, born on 22nd July 1981 in Barbados. Standing at an impressive 6 feet 7 inches tall, he is often referred to as ‘Big Ben’ by his friends. Despite his imposing physique, which is more typical of a fast bowler, Benn is a left-arm orthodox spinner and is also capable with the bat. Overcoming various controversies, Benn established himself as one of the West Indies’ most dependable spinners in recent years.
Sulieman Jamaal Benn is a West Indian former cricketer who played international cricket for the West Indies and first-class cricket for Barbados. Benn was a member of the West Indies team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup. Benn debuted in 1999/00, as a left-arm orthodox spin bowler.
Born: 22 July 1981 (age 43 years), Saint James, Barbados
Height: 01 m
Dates joined: 22 March 2008 (West Indies cricket team), 1999 (Barbados national cricket team)
Current team: West Indies Masters (Cricket Bowler)
Bowling: Slow left arm orthodox
Batting: Left-handed
Last ODI: 23 November 2016 v Sri Lanka
Sulieman Jamaal Benn Profile
With the build and attitude of a fast bowler, Sulieman Benn often stands out due to his towering height, natural confidence, and strong Barbadian roots. However, despite these traits, Benn is not a fast bowler but a left-arm spinner. After an impressive performance in the 2007-08 ‘Carib Beer Cup,’ Benn earned a call-up to the West Indies national team and made his Test debut against Sri Lanka, where he took 3 wickets in his first match. Soon after, he made his ODI debut against the same opposition, but was dropped due to a poor run of form.
In early 2009, Benn made a significant impact, claiming 8 wickets in the first Test against England and playing a key role in securing a West Indies victory by an innings. Later that year, he troubled Australia’s top order in Adelaide and continued his strong performances in the 2010 home series against South Africa.
International Career
After a series of strong performances in the 2007/08 Carib Beer Cup, Benn earned a place in the West Indies Test squad. He competed with Amit Jaggernauth for the spinner’s spot and made his Test debut on 22 March 2008 against Sri Lanka at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Despite bowling 40 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings at an economy rate of 3.00, Benn went wicketless. He made a solid contribution with the bat in his first innings, scoring 28 and helping the lower order after the top order collapsed.
In Sri Lanka’s second innings, Benn claimed his first Test wicket by dismissing Mahela Jayawardene (caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul) and finished with figures of 3/59. In the second innings, however, he could only manage 7 runs as the West Indies lost by 121 runs. On 6 December 2009, during the second Test against Australia, Benn achieved his first five-wicket haul with career-best figures of 5/155, after bowling 53 overs.
Early life
Benn began his cricketing journey with his home team, Barbados, at the age of 17 in 1999. During his first division debut, he impressed with an outstanding performance, claiming 77 wickets in 13 matches at an exceptional average of 11.03. Utilizing his height, Benn was able to generate bounce and bowl sharp Yorkers, making him a challenging bowler for batsmen. Benn had to work hard in the West Indian domestic circuit for several years before being noticed in the 2007-2008 Carib Beer Cup, where selectors recognized his potential.
Rise to Prominence
Benn redeemed himself during the early 2009 series against England, where he impressed by taking 8 wickets in the first Test, helping his team secure a victory. He then earned his first five-wicket haul in a Test series against Australia. In the 2010 series against South Africa, Benn had a standout performance, taking 15 wickets in three matches at an average of 30.6, with a career-best 6/81 in the third match.
However, after the West Indies’ poor performance in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, coupled with ongoing disciplinary issues, Benn was dropped from the squad. He made a strong comeback in 2014, taking 34 wickets in his first eight Tests. Benn was also included in the West Indies squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Controversies
Benn was never one to shy away from a confrontation, often getting involved in spats with opponents. One of the most notable incidents occurred during a Test match in 2009, when Benn had a heated argument with Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson. Benn was later banned for two matches after being found guilty of breaching the spirit of the game.
In 2010, Benn was sent off the field by his own captain, Chris Gayle, after refusing to bowl on the wicket. Another incident occurred during South Africa’s tour of the West Indies in 2010, when Benn was involved in a spat with Dale Steyn, who spat on Benn’s feet after being continuously sledged. As a result of these ongoing disciplinary issues, Benn was dropped from the West Indies team in 2011.
Records
Sulieman Benn holds the record for being the only bowler to bowl two maiden overs in a T20 international match, which he achieved against Zimbabwe, finishing with 4 wickets for just 6 runs. He also shares the record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership in a T20 World Cup with Nikita Miller.
