Confident Russell up for Aussie battle

CANBERRA, Australia, CMC – Exciting West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is champing at the bit to face Australia, and says he is backing himself to execute against the former World champions.

Russell, along with the Darren Sammy-led West Indies side, arrived here yesterday (Friday afternoon, Eastern Caribbean time) following 28 hours of travel from the Caribbean.

West Indies will play the Aussies in five-match One-Day International series and a one-off Twenty20, beginning February 1 in Perth.

The last time Russell faced Australia in ODIs, he was on top of his game with bat and ball, helping the Windies to a 2-2 verdict in the five-match series in the Caribbean last year. With the memories still fresh, the athletic Jamaica is hoping he can once again have a say in the outcome of the series.

“It boosts my confidence playing against top teams such as Australia. It boosts me as a player,” Russell said on arrival here.

“I am looking forward to doing well again against Australia. I’ve gotten some good scores against them and put on a crucial partnership with Sammy but we couldn’t get the job done they way we would’ve liked to get it done in that game.

“I’ve got a few four-wicket hauls against them so I’m looking forward to at least getting a five this time and boost my career a bit.”

In that Caribbean outing, Russell came alive in the third game with the series locked at 1-1, punching a cameo 37 from 42 balls in a 64-run, seventh wicket stand with Carlton Baugh, as the contest ended in a dramatic tie.