There aren't many players who can look down at Chris Gayle, but at 6'7" Sulieman Benn towers over his captain and makes the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brendan Nash look like schoolboys. Built like a fast bowler, and with the fiery attitude of one, Benn is also no stranger to on-field controversies. In 2007, he was involved in an ugly incident with batsman Robin Parris during a club game at Queen's Park Oval, and in 2009 was involved in a heated on-field argument with Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in the third Test at Perth. There were yet more charges to be added to his sheet, as Benn was dismissed from the field by his own captain during South Africa's one-day whitewashing of West Indies in 2010 after apparently refusing to bowl over the wicket, and in the Test series which followed was involved in several colourful exchanges with Dale Steyn.

But between the controversies came consistent performances which made clear his passion, determination and skill as a bowler and Benn has also cemented a spot as West Indies' most reliable spinner in years. His height gives him a curious aspect akin to a windmill when he delivers, but it also makes facing him on a dry track a daunting prospect. He has been economical without being spectacular for West Indies in one-day cricket, but registered remarkable figures of 4 for 6 in a Twenty20 against Zimbabwe in early 2010 - a match that, however, West Indies went on to lose. He picked up eight wickets in the first Test against England at Sabina Park in February 2009 to help set up what was ultimately a Test series win - although his efforts were forgotten amid Jerome Taylor's destruction of England's top order. His first five-wicket haul came in the drawn Test against Australia at Adelaide in December 2009, and he picked up career-best figures of 6 for 81 in the Third Test against South Africa in June 2010.
Liam Brickhill June 2010