Nomination motivates me to work harder — Russell

BY SHERDON COWAN

Sunday, January 04, 2015    

KNOWN for his penetrative fast bowling, powerful batting and electric out-fielding, Andre Russell has now mastered the art of being a match winner.

Despite making his debut in Test cricket against Sri Lanka in November 2010, his only cap at that level, Russell’s strengths have been better suited to the shorter format of the game.

During that season, Russell played at Barnards Green Cricket Club, Worcestershire, England, helping them secure promotion to the Birmingham League cricket. He took 39 wickets at an average of 10.15, and also led with his batting, hitting 799 runs in 11 innings at an average of 99.88.

Following his impressive display with the ball on his One Day International (ODI) debut at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Russell’s all-round prowess caught the eye of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Delhi Daredevils who bought him for a sum of US$450,000.

The 26-year-old came in for even more admiration in 2012, when he became the first bowler in Twenty20 to take four wickets in four successive deliveries.

But his most memorable performance to date came in last year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) when he led the Jamaica Tallawahs to a six-wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park.

With the Tallawahs requiring 10 runs from two balls, the aggressive batsman slammed a four and a ferocious last ball six on his way to an unbeaten 58 off 24 balls, which included three fours and six sixes.

That performance has placed the right-hander amongst six of the top performances nominated for the RJR Sports Foundation People’s Choice of the Year Award.

The Jamaica and West Indies fast bowling all-rounder has attributed the positive sequence of events over the past year to hard work, which has propelled him into maintaining a high level of consistency.

“It’s a very good feeling to be a part of the People’s Choice Award nominee again; I was a part of it last year and I didn’t win. But at the same time I feel good to know that I am doing well to get nominated again,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“Once I am getting nominated for whichever award, I know that I am doing a good job in my area. So that motivates me to just continue to work hard and do well every year,” he added.

Russell is up against boxer Nicholas Walters, Jaheel Hyde (athletics), Kemar Lawrence (football), Andrew Gutzmore (football) and swimmer Alia Atkinson, who is the only female nominee for the People’s Choice Performance of the Year Award.

“Being a nominee means a lot to me and it’s not just winning. Win or lose I am still appreciative of all I have accomplished and of all the support I have received.

“So I give God thanks to be a part of it another year, and thanks to everyone who is going to vote for me. I also express gratitude to those who have chosen me as a nominee and I am really grateful,” the 6ft 1in athlete said.

Russell, more popularly called ‘Rusty’ by his peers, further exclaimed his versatility when he began a second career as a recording artist under the name ‘Dre Russ’. He released two singles late last year, one of which is a collaboration with Beenie Man.

Russell has also exploited his talent as a member of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, and Melbourne Renegades in the Australian Big Bash. He is also a member of the touring West Indies team that is currently in South Africa.

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Nomination motivates me to work harder — Russell

Russell plans to take CPL success to India

Sport

Saturday, August 31, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) — All-rounder Andre Russell says he plans to carry his success in the just ended Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) into the West Indies ‘A’ tour of India in September.Russell has been included as a member of the squad to play three One-Day and one Twenty20 preceding three ‘Test’ matches.“I’m grateful for the opportunity to get back into the West Indies set-up,” Russell said.“‘A’ team cricket is the next step from the international scene.”Russell featured prominently in Jamaica Tallawahs securing title honours in the inaugural CPL.He finished sixth in the top-scorers chart with 203 runs made with a league-leading strike rate of 189.71.“I will remain positive and try to be as successful as possible with the bat and the ball,” said Russell, a member of the West Indies team which won the ICC World T20 Championship last year.“It will be hard work in the hot sun in India. I’m resting up right now and looking to get my fitness up.”Russell has faded from the senior West Indies outfit since the Zimbabwe home series in March.However, the Jamaican cricketer, who hit the most sixes in the CPL, said he will return as an all-rounder and not just a batsman.“I will still back my bowling. There’s always room for improvement and I’m still a bowler even though it’s been the bat I’ve shone with lately,” he said.“I improved on my field-setting and players like (Vernon) Philander, (Kumar) Sangakkara and (Muttiah) Muralitharan have helped me in their chats. Their experience added a lot for me. My death bowling has improved. Starting my spell was my problem, but now I am starting better with the ball,”said the Jamaican.RUSSELL… I’m grateful for the opportunity to get back into the West Indies set-

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Russell plans to take CPL success to India

Russell explodes as Jamaica Tallawahs reach CPL final

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago (CMC) — The Jamaica Tallawahs have fixed an appointment with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final of the inaugural Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament here, slated for last night at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The Tallawahs on Friday night eliminated the Barbados Tridents by seven wickets, in the second semi-final, as big-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell and veteran Sri Lankan left-hander Kumar Sangakarra steered them home with nine balls to spare.Replying to the Tridents’ 148 off 20 overs, the Tallawahs romped to 152 for three (off 18.3 overs) with Russell not out 29, off just six balls, and Sangakarra unbeaten on 50 off 36 deliveries.With the Tallawahs needing 32 from 20 balls when he came to the crease, Russell crushed the ambitions of the Tridents in the 19th over with a thrilling display of shot-making, as he plundered three big sixes off former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.Bowling the last of his four overs, after earlier capturing the prized wicket of Chris Gayle (three runs) cheaply in the fourth over of the innings, Mahmood produced some fodder deliveries to the Jamaican all-rounder who fired them into the stands and secured the advance of the Tallawahs.Man-of-the-match Sangakarra, mixing aggression with clinical stroke play, guided the team in the difficult overs and also shared an important second-wicket partnership of 71 with opener Chadwick Walton, who benefitted from a dropped chance before he was off the mark and scored 45 off 40 balls.Walton, who was eventually run out by wicketkeeper Johnathan Carter, punished the Tridents for the early left-off and pulled around the game with the help of Sangakarra for Russell to launch his amazing blitz in the late overs.The Tridents, who struggled and recovered to post a competitive total in their innings, generally kept themselves in the game up until the 18th over, when the Tallawahs needed 15 from 12 balls, and up until Russell exploded.The Tridents were sent in to bat and were set back early, losing the wickets of opener Dwayne Smith and promoted all-rounder Jason Holder with just six runs and three overs into the innings.Young left-handed opener Ramon Reifer then joined with Shoaib Malik to put on 102 runs for the third wicket, off 14 overs, before both fell in successive balls in the 17th over. Reifer was run out for a well-played 36 off 43 balls, while Malik, seeking to hit Chris Gayle out of the ground, was caught at deep midwicket for 49 off 46 balls.From 108 for 3 — Mahmood (14), captain Keiron Pollard (13) and Kyle Mayers (12) added 40 runs off the last three overs to set up what was anticipated to be an interesting tussle for a place in the final.As it turned out, the Tallawahs made light work of the target and qualified to face the Warriors, who defeated them twice in the preliminary rounds.

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Russell explodes as Jamaica Tallawahs reach CPL final