West Indies’ one of the most ferocious hitters, all-rounder Andre Russell, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 37-year-old will play his final two T20Is against Australia on July 20 and July 22 in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, bringing down the curtains on a glittering white-ball career. Russell won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, having won 84 T20I caps, scoring 1,078 runs, and taking 61 wickets. He has also represented West Indies in 56 ODIs, scoring 1034, including four fifties and taking 70 wickets. His last appearance in the ODIs was in 2019.
"Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life. When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realise what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others," Russell said.
"I love playing for the West Indies and I love playing at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances. I want to finish my international career on a high while being a role model for the next generation of cricketers coming out of the Caribbean."
West Indies are set to host Australia in the five-match T20I series, and the first game of the series will be played on Sunday in Kingston.