Andre Russell Announces T20I Retirement, Bids Farewell After First Two Matches vs Australia

Star all-rounder Andre Russell, who has been playing only for the West Indies T20 team since 2019, is now bidding farewell to international cricket. The Caribbeans, who were whitewashed by Australia in the Test series, are now entering a five-match T20 series from July 21. Russell will hold up the national team jersey after playing the first two matches of the upcoming series.

The 37-year-old star all-rounder is set to retire at a time when there are only 7 months left for the 2026 T20 World Cup. This mega cricket tournament will be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March next year. In his international career, Andre Russell has played 84 matches in the short format. In which he has taken 61 wickets along with 1078 runs at a strike rate of 163.

In addition, Russell has played 56 ODIs. He has taken 70 wickets in the format along with 1034 runs. Although he started his international career with Tests in 2010, Russell has played only one match in that format. Announcing his retirement, the Windies star said, “Words cannot explain what it means. Representing the West Indies is one of the proudest achievements of my life. I want to end my international career in a position that will be a role model for the next generation to emerge from the Caribbean.”

Russell added, “When I was a kid, I didn’t expect to play at this level, but the more you play, the more you love the game. You realize what you have achieved. It has motivated me to be better, because I want to leave a mark on the maroon jersey and it has become an inspiration to others. I love playing on West Indies soil, in front of family and friends, where my talent and high-quality performances were born.”

Russell has become the second West Indies star cricketer to announce his retirement in less than two months after Nicholas Pooran. He was a key member of the Caribbean’s two T20 World Cup-winning teams in 2012 and 2016. On his retirement, Caribbean coach Darren Sammy said, “Andre has always been a consummate professional and an aggressive competitor. Whenever I have captained or coached him, his hunger to perform and win for the West Indies has never waned. I wish him well in his next chapter, and I hope he continues to inspire generations to come.”

After Russell retired with his second T20I, Matthew Ford will join the Caribbean squad against the Aussies. Youngster Jewel Andrew and 23-year-old Jediah Blades, who made his debut in the series, have also been called up. At just 17 years and 266 days old in the 2024 CPL, Jewell became the youngest West Indian to score a fifty and the second youngest in a major T20 league.