WEST Indies batsman Marlon Samuels will today return to competitive action when he suits up for Melbourne Kangaroos against Kingston Tigers in the second round of the Jamaican Super Cricket League at Sabina Park.

The right-handed batting stylist was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in May 2008, after he was found guilty of breaching their code of conduct.

In his absence, the Kangaroos last weekend opened the third year of the semi-professional league with a crushing eight-wicket win over St Ann Cutters, thanks to a century from Donovan Pagon and a 10-wicket haul from spinner Damion Jacobs.

The 29-year-old Samuels, who has scored two hundreds in 29 Tests, told the Sporting World that he is happy to be renewing rivalry with the Tigers over the two days.

“It means a lot coming back into a Melbourne team filled with a confident bunch of guys. It’s a wonderful feeling and I’m looking forward just to be able to play cricket again. It’s also special that I will be facing rivals Kingston and Andrew Richardson. We (Richardson and I) have had encounters in the past and this meeting is something (for spectators) to look forward to,” he said.

Kingston also got off to a confident start to the competition when they got the better of Trelawny Buccaneers by 73 runs in a low-scoring encounter. National player Nkrumah Bonner made an undefeated half-century to go along with 10 wickets in the match for the Tigers.

Jamaican pacer Richardson said while he welcomes Samuels’ return, he will be putting out his best in his quest to improve his own form.

“It is good to see Marlon back from that two-year ban. We have been friends for like 15 years so it is always good to be playing both against him and alongside him,” he said.

“I’ll come out and work hard (in this match). Overall I’m trying to gain some form because I had a poor (2009-10) first-class season for Jamaica, so I am working to improve,” Richardson added.

In another match at the Little London Sports Ground, Westmoreland Wizards will face defending champions Manchester Lions in what promises to be an interesting match-up.

The Lions pose a formidable threat with the likes of captain Gary Graham, young right hander Zeniffe Fowler and national left-arm swing bowler Krishmar Santokie. Though not as talented on paper, Westmoreland can rely on national youth pacer Nicholson Gordon.

St Catherine Saints are tipped to hold the upper hand when they host Trelawny at Chedwin Park. Though they came up short on first innings in their first-round match to Manchester, the Saints boast Jamaica senior team captain Tamar Lambert, offspinner Bevon Brown and legspinner Gavin Wallace.

At the Port Rhoades Sports Club in Discovery Bay, St Ann Cutters will seek to rebound from last week’s loss when they oppose St Elizabeth Warriors. The Cutters will be relying on out-of-favour Jamaican batsman Xavier Marshall and West Indies youth player John Campbell, while national players Brenton Parchment and Shawn Findlay are expected to be among the runs for St Elizabeth.