Andre Russell
They don’t call him Superman for nothing.
By the time Andre Russell was a little more than five years into international cricket, he was a two-time world champion. That both titles came in the T20 format defines the kind of cricketer he is. A batsman who hits the ball hard enough to make the inanimate thing scream for mercy, he functions primarily as a finisher. He generates even more pace with the ball in hand and when it is anywhere near him in the field, it doesn't matter at what pace it's travelling, Russell will probably get to it. He is less of a cricketer, in the traditional sense, and more of an athlete.
He made his way into the West Indies A squad and captured plenty of attention with his exploits in a 50-over game against Ireland in June 2010, smashing 61 off 34 balls and taking 6 for 42. It was a performance that helped him win a place in West Indies' 2011 World Cup squad.
Russell's star shone brightest at the IPL 2015 when he was named Man of the Tournament, and the Big Bash League 2015-16 when he struck at 186.86 and picked up 16 wickets - joint-second best - from 10 matches.
He won the CPL title with the Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013, the IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, the Bangladesh Premier League title with Comilla Victorians, the BBL title with Sydney Thunder and the Pakistan Super League title with Islamabad United in 2016.
Full name: Andre Dwayne Russell
Born: April 29, 1988, (32) Jamaica
Major teams: West Indies, Comilla Warriors, Delhi Daredevils, Eagles (UAE), Islamabad United, Jamaica, Jamaica Select XI, Jamaica Tallawahs, Khulna Royal Bengals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Melbourne Renegades, Multan Sultans, Nangarhar Leopards, Northern Warriors, Nottinghamshire, Rajshahi Royals, Sagicor High-Performance Centre, Sydney Thunder, Sylhet Royals, UWI Vice Chancellor's XI, Vancouver Knights, West Indies A, West Indies Select XI, West Indies XI, Worcestershire, Worcestershire
Playing role: Allrounder
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s
49 41 14 540 47 20.00 357 151.26 0 0 32 42
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s
321 270 71 5365 121* 26.95 3132 171.29 2 18 356 425
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
49 42 643 974 26 2/10 2/10 37.46 9.08 24.7 0 0 0
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
321 297 5460 7532 291 4/11 4/11 25.88 8.27 18.7 8 0 0
100m hurdler Williams to make debut at American Track League
2015 World 100m hurdles gold medallist, Danielle Williams, is expected to open her season in the United States, at the American Track League Indoor Series, next month.
The upcoming appearance will be the first for the 28-year-old sprinter since she pulled the plug on her 2020 season, in May, when the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the international track and field schedule.
The American Track League, which is part of the World Athletics Silver Tour, gives professional athletes an opportunity to return to competition as preparations begin for an Olympic year.
The meet, which is staged in four-parts, ran off in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sunday. 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 110m hurdles, Omar McLeod, who raced in the 60 metres, was one of several Jamaicans who took part on the opening weekend. The list also included the likes of Tyquendo Tracey, Senoj-Jay Givans, and Christopher Taylor. The meet will continue with the next three installments on January 31st, February 7th, and February 14th.
Williams, the 2019 Diamond League champion, is based in South Carolina in the USA where she trains with coach Lennox Graham at Clemson University.
'Face more balls, score more runs' - How simple advice from batting star Kohli helped WI batsman Blackwood
In-form West Indies middle-order batsman, Jermaine Blackwood, has credited brief advice received from top-class India batsman Virat Kohli as helpful in changing his mindset towards scoring runs.
The 29-year-old scored his first century against England in 2015, a plucky 112 unbeaten in a draw in Antigua. Following that impressive achievement, however, Blackwood seemed unable to cross the double-digit threshold. In fact, before finally breaking the streak with 104 against New Zealand, in December, Blackwood had managed to score 10 half-centuries in-between but always fell short of a triple-digit score.
Included in that number were some figures frustratingly well clear of the 50 mark, but falling just short of the 100 mark, when for all intents and purposed the batsman seemed well set to do so. The tally includes three scores in the 90s. He scored 92 against Sri Lanka, in Galle, in 2015; 95 against Pakistan, in Abu Dhabi, in 2016, and 95 against England, in Southampton, in July of last year. Prior to that, Blackwood also registered 85 against England, in Bridgetown, in May 2015. During India’s tour of the West Indies, Blackwood took the opportunity to seek the advice of run-machine Kohli when the two briefly interacted off the pitch.
“I just asked him how come all the time I score so many half-centuries and just one century, and he just replied, ‘What did you do when you scored the century? How many deliveries did you face?’ I said I faced 212, and he said that’s it, once you can bat some balls you will score runs,” Blackwood recalled.
“I took a lot from that and I’ve always told myself, after that conversation, once I can bat over 200 balls or 300, I’m going to score runs. Once I’m there, the way I bat, I’m going to score runs regardless of who I’m playing against or where I’m playing.”
Shai, Kyle Hope to miss regional Super50 competition after testing positive for coronavirus
Out of favour West Indies batsman Shai Hope and brother Kyle will be among three players to miss out on the CG Insurance Super50 Cup, after returning positive COVID-19 results in the latest round of PCR tests.
The Hope brothers, who would have represented Barbados Tridents, will be joined on the sidelines by left-handed opener Trevon Griffith who was part of the Guyana Jaguars batting line-up. The latest round of tests was conducted on Sunday.
The Barbados Pride have already named Zachary McCaskie and Tevyn Walcott as replacements for the Hopes, while Kemol Savory has been named as the replacement for Griffith in the Jaguars squad.
The trio will remain in their respective territories where there will be required to follow local COVID-19 protocols.
All other members of the Barbados Pride and Guyana Jaguars squads returned negative COVID-19 tests and will undergo second tests on Thursday, January 28 before travelling for the tournament, as part of CWI's established protocols.
The CG Insurance Super50 Cup will be played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from Sunday, February 7 to Saturday, February 27. On opening day, Leeward Islands Hurricanes will host arch-rivals Windward Islands Volcanoes at CCG.
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