West Indies Cricket Fans Forum
On-fire Russell `hungry’ for World Cup success
KOLKATA, India, (CMC) – All-rounder Andre Russell says there is a renewed hunger to represent West Indies in the upcoming World Cup, especially with his current batting form.
The 31-year-old has played only a single One-Day International in the last four years but was named in the Caribbean side’s World Cup 15-man squad last week.
He was recalled for the last two matches of the recent five-match home series against England but was subsequently kept out due to a knee injury.
“I’m so hungry now to represent the West Indies,” the Jamaican said.
“The last time I joined the West Indies team was recently, when I had taken two injections to better my knee and it flared up again. I was so upset. I was watching the game against England and couldn’t do anything about it.
“But as I said, I’m so hungry right now to represent the West Indies and smash sixes and do what I’ve been doing here and score hundreds.”
Russell has been on fire with the bat in the ongoing Indian Premier League where he has plundered 486 runs at an average of 69 with four half-centuries, to top the Kolkata Knight Riders batting charts.
Though there has been less emphasis placed on his medium-fast bowling, the right-armer has already claimed 10 wickets at an average of 22 and economy rate of nearly nine.
Despite his absence from the ODI side in recent years, Russell said his selection for the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England was not unexpected.
“I wasn’t surprised that I was a part of the World Cup squad,” Russell explained.
“I’ve been doing well. I’ve been back and forth with the selectors and the coaches back home. I know once I’m doing my work here and performing, that will lead to national duties.
“I wasn’t really focused on the World Cup. I was just trying to make sure that whatever happened here, I did my best and put my best foot forward.”
New interim West Indies head coach, Floyd Reifer, said last week that Russell’s current form in the IPL had weighed heavily in the decision by selectors.
“He’s shown that he has tremendous striking ability – look at his stats in the IPL, he’s been doing very, very well,” he pointed out.
Russell averages 28 from 52 ODIs and has taken 65 wickets.
About the author
Guyana Diaspora Forum
We have a large database of Guyanese worldwide. Most of our readers are in the USA, Canada, and the UK. Our Blog and Newsletter would not only carry articles and videos on Guyana, but also other articles on a wide range of subjects that may be of interest to our readers in over 200 countries, many of them non-Guyanese We hope that you like our selections.
It is estimated that over one million Guyanese, when counting their dependents, live outside of Guyana. This exceeds the population of Guyana, which is now about 750,000. Many left early in the 50’s and 60’s while others went with the next wave in the 70’s and 80’s. The latest wave left over the last 20 years. This outflow of Guyanese, therefore, covers some three generations. This outflow still continues today, where over 80 % of U.G. graduates now leave after graduating. We hope this changes, and soon.
Guyanese, like most others, try to keep their culture and pass it on to their children and grandchildren. The problem has been that many Guyanese have not looked back, or if they did it was only fleetingly. This means that the younger generations and those who left at an early age know very little about Guyana since many have not visited the country. Also, if they do get information about Guyana, it is usually negative and thus the cycle of non-interest is cultivated.
This Guyana Diaspora Online Forum , along with its monthly newsletter, aims at bringing Guyanese together to support positive news, increase travel and tourism in Guyana and, in general, foster the birth of a new Guyana, which has already begun notwithstanding the negative news that grabs the headlines. As the editor and manager of the publication, I am committed to delivering Blog entries and Newsletters that are politically balanced, and focused on the positive ideas we wish to share and foster among Guyanese.
| ||||
