West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell featured in a five-match T20I series against England at home and vowed to arrive at the 2024 T20 World Cup looking like a “UFC fighter”.
Russell marked his return to international cricket after a two-year long absence and the 35-year-old all-rounder proved that he has still got it as he was the home side’s leading wicket-taker in the series and also 105 runs at a staggering strike rate of 169.35.
Russell wasn’t named in West Indies squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia as selector Desmond Haynes stated that the team has “moved on” from him but the 35-year-old managed to win a recall.
"It means a lot, to be honest, getting the call-up to come back and to join the West Indies team," he told TNT Sports. "I've been working for the last two years, waiting on a call-up."I'm just excited to be back and have a win," Russell said, highlighting the role that Daren Sammy has played in his return.
"The coach has been backing me a lot. I'm so happy. I feel like I've won a big, big championship with just a series win, that's how much it means to me."
The all-rounder pledged that he would be in better shape in the T20 World Cup 2024 which will be co-hosted by West Indies and the United States of America.
"I'll be in better shape, to be honest: I'll be looking like a UFC fighter," he said. "This series win means so much. It [makes me] want to push myself to the limit."
Russell played for West Indies just after featuring in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and stated that he was tired after taking a flight all the way from Dubai the UAE to Barbados.
"I was coming from Abu Dhabi where it's a big time difference," he said. "Flying back into Barbados I tried to stay up as late as possible to make sure that I get enough sleep so that I can [be] fresh for the game.
“I have a lot of cricket to play and that's good. When you're playing cricket and in competition, your body is active and you're not just sat at home waiting for the World Cup.
“I want to make sure that I do the necessary recoveries, drink a lot of coconut water and get my body right - massages, and all of that. That's what I did to really be able to come in the last game, bowl three overs for 30-odd runs [37] - and then today was exceptional from all the bowlers."
- Andre Russell
