St John's [Antigua]: According to ESPNCricinfo, West Indies allrounder Andre Russell would retire from international cricket, with the first two games of a five-match T20I series against Australia at home set to be his final appearances for the Windies.
Russell, 37, has been selected for the five-match series, with the first two games taking place at his home venue of Sabina Park in Jamaica, serving as his farewell to international cricket.
Since 2019, Russell has only played T20I cricket for his nation. He has featured in 84 T20Is for WI, scoring 1,078 runs at an average of 22.00, with a strike rate of 163.08, three halfcenturies, and a high score of 71. He has also taken 61 wickets at an average of 30.59, with best figures of 3/19.
His retirement comes just seven months before the next ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. Russell is the West Indies' second high-profile retirement in recent years, following batter Nicholas Pooran's recent farewell to international cricket at the age of 29.
Russell has only played one Test for the West Indies, but he has also appeared in 56 ODIs, scoring 1,034 runs at an average of 27. 21, with a strike rate of over 130, four half-centuries, and a top score of 92. In ODIs, he has 70 wickets with an average of 31. 84, including best bowling stats of 4/35.
The 37-year-old was a member of the West Indies squad that won the ICC T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016.
Russell has played a significant role in various T20 competitions, amassing 9,316 runs in 561 matches at an average of 26.39 and a strike rate of over 168. His record consists of two centuries, 33 fifties, and a greatest score of 121. As a bowler, he has claimed 485 wickets at an average of 25.85, with best numbers of 5/15.
He recently competed in the Major Cricket League (MLC) in the United States for the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR), scoring 126 runs in nine games and eight innings at an average of 25.20, with a high score of 65, his lone half-century. He also recorded ten wickets at an average of 32.90, with best figures of 3/30. His team did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing at the bottom of the standings.
West Indies team for T20Is against Australia:
Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd.
