KEY POINTS:
He has the million-dollar shots, but missed the seven-figure payday - and therein lies the paradox of precocious West Indian Xavier Marshall.
The talented 22-year-old Jamaican should be set up for life financially but a failed drugs test during a camp from which the minted Stanford Superstars squad was picked meant Marshall ruled himself out of a share of Texan billionaire Allen Stanford's riches in Antigua on November 1.
By testing positive to recreational drugs, Marshall was axed from the squad that blitzed England in the Twenty20 for US$20 million one-off and possibly never-to-be-repeated showdown.
Yet his indiscretion might eventually prove the making of a stroke maker in whom the West Indies Cricket Board clearly have placed a lot of stock as they seek a replacement for Brian Lara.
He faced no sanction from the sport's governing body in the Caribbean, the thought of missing out on a cool $1m penalty enough for Marshall, who debuted as a 19-year-old against the Australians in 2005.
While Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul form the axis of the current West Indies batting line-up the captain is 29, Sarwan 28 and Chanderpaul is the elder statesman at 34.
That leaves a pathway for Marshall, should he choose to take it.
As well as his positive drugs test, he was reprimanded for fiery exchanges early in his 22-match ODI career and, unsurprisingly, he was quick to give Brendon McCullum a send-off when he was incorrectly given out caught behind to end New Zealand's hopes of a push for victory in the second test in Napier.
Marshall is unafraid to talk the talk on the field though, statistically, his words speak louder than his actions.
A star at the under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006, where he helped the West Indies reach the semifinals with 106 from 133 balls against South Africa, Marshall is yet to transfer his ability to the highest level.
The test series against New Zealand summed up his struggles. Six months after a sublime 85 off the Australian attack in Bridgetown, he could muster only 44 runs in three innings against New Zealand.
In six tests Marshall averages 22.09 and his ODI figures also question the faith selectors have shown in him since his recall last year - three years after his debut.
Marshall averages 18.75 from 23 ODIs, particularly meagre considering his figures were boosted by 157 not out against minnows Canada in August - a knock that included a record 12 sixes.
In 15 innings he failed to reach double figures and last night he looked dreadful in making two from 11 balls before being bowled by Jacob Oram.
Marshall was given an initial 10-game run against Australia, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka - but was dispatched to domestic cricket after averaging 9.8.
He was surprisingly recalled against the Australians in June after managing only two fifties for Jamaica - Marshall is yet to compile a first-class century - but captain and coach are convinced the right hander is the way forward.
"You get glimpses of Xavier's potential. The hardest part for our squad and the development of our squad is they're learning on the job," Australian-born coach John Dyson said. "It's now a matter for Xavier to work out what he needs to do to his game to bring his potential out."
Gayle is trying to bring the talent into line - though he emphasised Marshall must also mould his destiny.
"I take a lot of interest in him. He needs a bit of guidance. You need to keep your eyes on him but at the same time you're not going to treat him like a child," he said. "He's a big man, he's got a daughter, he's a father.
"Sometimes you see young players lose interest in the game so I try to improve him as much as possible. Hopefully he can be a bright prospect for West Indies cricket.
- NZPA
