ST JOHN’S – All-rounder Andre Russell has been drafted into the West Indies squad for the final two One-Day Internationals against England.
The 30-year-old, overlooked for the first three matches, has been campaigning for Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.
Russell, a powerful lower order batsman and effective fast bowler, replaces experienced seamer Kemar Roach who suffered a lower back injury prior to the opening match in Bridgetown and was ruled out of the five-match series.
“We believe Russell will add value to the squad,” chief selector Courtney Browne said.
“We are well aware that although Andre’s bowling may be limited due to a knee problem, his tremendous batting ability to power the ball in the back end of the game will be an asset to the team.”
Russell has not played for West Indies in ODIs since the three-match series against Bangladesh in the Caribbean last July. He played the opening match but then missed the next two with injury.
He recovered to feature in the Twenty20 series against Bangladesh a few weeks later but has not played for the Windies since, missing subsequent tours of India and Bangladesh.
Russell’s career has been plagued with a dodgy knee, and the Jamaican has preferred to focus on the shortest format in recent times.
He has scored 998 runs from 52 ODIs with four half-centuries and taken 65 wickets.
Russell will be a massive boost for the Windies who have proved competitive in the opening two ODIs in Bridgetown.
They lost the first match last Wednesday by six wickets despite posting a venue record 360 but rebounded to win the second three days later by 26 runs.
The third ODI is being played Monday in St George’s, with the fourth scheduled for Wednesday and the final one set for Saturday in St Lucia. (CMC)
