It could easily be termed as the end of an era! Swashbuckling batter, also no novice when it comes to rolling his arms, Andre Russell (37) has called time on his international career.
The ruthless all-rounder, a pivot for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Indian Premier League (IPL), who has been included in the West Indies side for the 5-match T2OI series against Australia will hang up his boots after featuring in the first two matches to be held at Sabina Park, Jamaica, his home turf on July 20 and 22.
Matthew Forde would take his place once he calls it a day. Russell is part of the West Indies side to be led by Shai Hope.
Announcing his retirement, Russell said, “Words cannot explain what it meant. To play for the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements of my life.”
The Jamaican also expressed his gratitude to the cricket board for giving him the honour of signing off at home.
“I love playing for the West Indies and at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances,” he elaborated, adding he wished to finish his international career on a high as role model for future generations in Caribbean cricket.
The Caribbeans, who were hammered by the Pat Cummins-led Australian side in the three-match Test series, are up against the Men from Down Under in a five-match T20I series that begins from Sunday.
Beyond doubt, the islanders would leave no stone unturned to avenge the affront inflicted on them by the Aussies in the three-match Test series, especially the 27-run all out mishap in the second innings of the third match at Sabina Park. The Aussies made merry of a depleted West Indian team, making a clean sweep in the current World Test Championship cycle.
Russell’s retirement comes days after one of his former teammates, Nicholas Pooran, bade farewell to international cricket.
Russell’s exit would bring the curtains down on an eventful international career that started way back in 2010 when he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle – his first and only appearance in Tests.
The amiable cricketer who was part of the ICC T20-winning campaigns for West Indies in 2012 and 2016, has so far played 84 international matches in the shortest format scoring 1078 runs at an average of 22 with a strike rate of 163.8.
A middle-order batter, Russell aka Dre-Russ, has only three fifties written against his name – a number not behoving his presence in the tiniest version of the game. With the ball, he has had 68 scalps most of which came at crucial stages of the proceedings.
The man with a swag was, however, never considered a force to reckon with in the five-day format.
In 56 ODIs, he amassed 1034 runs at a meagre average of just over 27 to go with his 70 wickets.
True, the stats don’t justify the sheer brutality with which he has toyed with bowlers over the years.
The Jamaican may not have done justice to his skills at the international level, but he has been the toast of franchise cricket, especially at the IPL for the Shah Rukh Khan-led side.
Never short of dynamism, Russell who started his IPL journey with the Delhi Daredevils, now rechristened Delhi Capitals in 2012, joined KKR in 2014. His enviable record is a testament to his indispesability for the team having scored over 2000 runs in more than 100 matches and bagging more than 100 wickets. He was part of the IPL-winning KKR sides which was helmed by the current Indian coach Gautam Gambhir in 2014 and Shreyas Iyer in 2024.
A stalwart of T20 cricket, Russell apart from KKR, has played for a number of sides in leagues all over the world – Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Big Bash and several others stamping his authority as a vital cog in the wheel.
Overall, he has scored over 9000 runs in 561 T20 matches at an average of 26.39.
Unfortunately, Russell’s aura at the highest level fell short of his true acumen, something he himself isn’t oblivious to. He did shine, albeit sporadically.
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The man who doesn’t hesitate to cut loose both on and off the field, would in all probabilities continue to unleash his dominance on bowlers in club cricket for atleast two-three years before signing off.
But deep down, he would be disappointed at his records, which could have been way better than what they actually read.
