West Indies cricketers are generally known for their jolly and fun-loving nature both off and on the field, no wonder they are admired and looked after by fans around the globe. Wherever they play, whichever format they play they are always in the spotlight. But there have been unpleasant incidents where some came to the spotlight for the wrong reasons. It’s a Gentleman’s game after all as they call it but some of them just crossed the line that tainted the game’s reputation and the team. Here is the list of the top 10 west indies cricketers who were suspended and even jailed for their wrong-doings.

1. Leslie Hylton

Former West Indies fast bowler Leslie Hylton is the only test cricketer to be hanged to death. In 1954, Hylton received an unsigned telegram informing him of his wife’s affair with Roy Francis. Hylton confronted his wife, who denied the matter initially but confessed to the affair after he claimed he read a letter she had sent to Francis. In a moment of rage, Hylton shot her seven times and then called the police himself. He was hanged to death on May 17, 1955.

2. Marlon Samuels

West Indian man of the finals (2012,2016) Marlon Samuels was charged with match-fixing back in 2008 and was found guilty by the ICC for providing information to a bookie. He was found guilty of taking benefits, money, or other perks which could bring him or the game of cricket into ignominy. The incident in question happened in February 2007, and he received a 2-year ban. In September 2021, he was charged with four breaches of ICC’s anti-corruption code.

3. Rory Gilchrist

Rory Gilchrist was a tear-away West Indian fast bowler whose career was cut short due to his over-aggressive nature. He had all the ingredients in him for being an intimidating fast bowler, but his ill temperament and skirmishes with the management and the players led to his anonymity. His international career ended when he bowled lethal beamers against Swaranjit Singh despite being warned sent back home mid-game. In 1967 he brutally assaulted his wife, for which he served probation that lasted three months.

4. David Anthony Murray

David Anthony Murray, son of great Sir Everton Weekes, was believed to have a promising career which was reduced due to drug addiction and for being a rebel. He got a lifetime ban in 1983 for touring South Africa in the times of Apartheid (rebel tour). Murray could have served West Indies cricket team for long, instead, he lived in anonymity and poverty simply because he lacked the discipline required for being a sportsperson.

5. Ryan Hinds

Ryan hinds, a top-order batsman who showed promise but faded out of the national team, was charged with rape in 2012. He was accused of committing this crime against a 28-year-old woman. He appeared before the Magistrate court and was granted bail in 7,500 Barbados dollars. Later on, the woman took back the case which was a massive relief for him.

6. Andre Russell

West Indies star all-rounder Andre Russell served a one-year ban for whereabouts (information provided by top athletes about their location to National Anti-Doping Organization) clause violation effective from 31st January 2017. He was found to be guilty of being negligent in filing his whereabouts on 3 different occasions, which led to this suspension as, according to WADA rules, it amounted to a failed dope test.

7. Tremayne Smartt

West indies woman cricketer Tremayne Smartt was handed a 5-month suspension/ban for failing the dope test after a match against Pakistan in September 2011.The sample of Tremayne Smartt was found to contain a prohibited substance, Furosemide. She later admitted that she had no intention to cheat and accepted the consequences.

8. Shannon Gabriel

West Indies spearhead fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was banned for four one-day internationals following an on-field verbal spat (personal abuse) with England captain Joe Root. Though the words spoken by Gabriel were not audible, the comments might have been homophobic since Joe Root was heard replying that there’s nothing wrong with being gay.

9. Nicholas Pooran

A rising star and future of West Indies cricket Nicholas Pooran made the headlines for the wrong reasons when he was handed a four-match(t20Is) suspension for trying to change the condition of the ball with his thumbnail, commonly known as ball-tampering. The incident happened against a match against Afghanistan in November 2019. Pooran recognized his mistake, and called it an error in judgement and accepted the penalty.

10. Dinesh Ramdin

Dinesh Ramdin, a fine wicketkeeper/batsman usually safe behind the sticks, was suspended for 2 ODIs and fined 100 percent match fees for claiming a fake catch in the Champions trophy 2013 match against Pakistan. He appeared to have caught the ball, but then fumbled it as he dived forward, the ball made contact with the ground but still, he joined his teammates who were celebrating instead of telling the umpires that he had dropped it.The batsman involved was Misbah-ul-Haq who was on 0 when this incident happened and went on to make 96.