Russell opens up on quarantine, WI availability
Life in bio-bubble continues to take toll on players as Andre Russell has shared the difficulties he had to face in the toughest times.
West Indian all-rounder Russell was criticized for taking part in the LPL (Lanka Premier League) at the time when West Indies were playing a three-match T20I series in New Zealand.
Also Read - de Kock named new Proteas Test captainThe 32-year-old was struggling with the form which initially made him to decide not to tour New Zealand. Later he reached out to chief selector Roger Harper to inform his U-turn on the tour but that was denied by Harper.
“I reached out to him and said: ‘Sir, I know that a week or two weeks ago I said that I’m not available, [but] I’m available. I want to go around my Caribbean guys. I know I would maybe be better off in that space. They speak my language, I don’t have to be worried about whatever, and if I fail, they’re going to know that Andre Russell was trying his best’.The chairman reached out to me and said: “sorry Andre, we already went ahead, we made a decision.” And he said best wishes or something for the rest of the IPL. I said okay, I understand,” Russell told Jamaica-based SportsMax.
Russell revealed that lockdown made him felt like being in a ‘prison’.
“I get out of the bubble. I go to Dubai, have a good time, drink, party, loosen myself. I feel alive. When you feel like you’re coming out of prison, it’s like.. I’ve never been to prison, but this lockdown actually felt ‘oh my god, I can’t do whatever I want to do.'”
Russell then signed for Colombo Kings after getting a second LPL offer from Angelo Mathews.
“While in Dubai, I got an offer, but before I get this offer, I turned down the offer to come here [Sri Lanka] because I said I can’t come because I got injured. “While I was in Dubai, playing the UKC [Ultimate Kricket Challenge], then, Angelo Mathews messaged me. He said: ‘Bro, we need you to play, even as a batsman.'”
Russell smashed a 14-ball half-century (65* off 19) in his second LPL outing against Galle Gladiators in a rain-affected five-over clash. He has not scored another fifty so far.
