Andre Russell Bids Farewell to International Cricket with a Stellar Performance
A Memorable Exit for Andre Russell
Kingston, Jamaica - On July 23, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell concluded his international cricket journey during the second T20I against Australia, albeit with a defeat. However, he left his fans with a thrilling performance, scoring a rapid 36 runs off just 15 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes.
Russell's explosive innings, alongside opener Brandon King's contribution of 51 runs from 36 balls, helped the West Indies reach a total of 172/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
For Australia, Adam Zampa was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis contributed with 2 wickets each.
Australia chased down the target comfortably, thanks to impressive knocks from Josh Inglis, who scored an unbeaten 78 off 33 balls, and Cameron Green, who added 56 runs off 32 balls, leading to an eight-wicket victory with 28 balls remaining.
In his T20I career, Russell amassed 1,122 runs across 86 matches, averaging 22.00 with a remarkable strike rate exceeding 163. He recorded three half-centuries, with a personal best of 71 runs. He ranks as the 11th highest run-scorer for the West Indies in T20Is and is also the fourth highest wicket-taker, with 61 wickets at an average of 31.45.
Overall, Russell's international career totals 2,158 runs from 143 matches, averaging 23.97, along with 132 wickets at an average of 32.21. In ODIs, he scored 1,034 runs in 56 matches, with four half-centuries and best figures of 4/35.
After the match, Russell expressed his gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support and to the West Indies Cricket Board for allowing him to play in front of his home crowd at Sabina Park. He reflected on his career, highlighting the two T20 World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016 as the pinnacle of his achievements.
“I just want to say thanks to everyone at Sabina Park and the WICB for this opportunity. Although the result wasn't in our favor, I cherish the moments spent playing here. I wish the team all the best moving forward,” he stated.
Russell concluded by acknowledging the promising talent in the current squad, expressing optimism for the future of West Indies cricket.