Andre Russell is expected to retire from international cricket next week, with the second T20I against Australia likely to be his last match in West Indies colours.
According to reports, the dynamic all-rounder will feature in the first two games of the five-match T20I series before calling time on his international career at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
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The first T20I will be played on Sunday, July 21, followed by the second game on July 23. Both matches will take place in Kingston, Russell’s hometown, giving him a chance to bid farewell in front of his home crowd.
When is Russell’s last international match for West Indies?
Russell has represented West Indies in international cricket since 2010 and is expected to hang up his boots at the age of 37.
He has chosen the Jamaica leg of the series for his swansong, likely due to its emotional significance. The ESPNcricinfo report indicated that the second T20I would mark his final appearance.
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His decision follows closely after Nicholas Pooran’s sudden retirement last month at the age of 29. Russell’s exit was expected given his age and physical strain from years of high-impact cricket.
Andre Russell’s stats and achievements in international cricket
Russell’s contribution to West Indies cricket is nothing short of legendary. Russell is member of the squads that won the T20 World Cup in both 2012 and 2016.
He has played 84 T20Is, scoring 1078 runs at a blistering strike rate of 163.08 and taking 61 wickets with the ball.
In ODIs, he has appeared in 56 matches and scored 1034 runs while picking up 70 wickets. His last appearance in the 50-over format came during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
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With Russell stepping away from international duty, the Windies lose one of their most explosive players just months ahead of the T20 World Cup.
As for Russell, he is likely to continue playing franchise cricket around the globe, where his power-hitting and death bowling remain in high demand.