KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell says his players will have to bury the disappointment of the Super50 tournament and turn their attention to the upcoming Regional Four-day competition
The Jamaicans lost to hosts Trinidad & Tobago by seven wickets after a poor batting display saw them dismissed for a record low 49 in the semi-final.
“Honestly. I don’t know what happened in the Super50 semi-final. I’m lost for words…first I don’t really know how to explain a cricket game,” he said.
“We made a plan, but we just never had the score on the board”.
Jamaica, winners of five straight four-day trophies until relinquishing the title to Barbados last year, meet Guyana at Sabina Park in the tournament opener today.
Russell, selected in the 13-member squad for the encounter, said the focus is now on reclaiming the four-day crown.
“We are surprised [at how we lost in the Super50] and as professionals you don’t want to accept that,” said Russell.
“It hurt, but at the same time you have to try get it off your mind as soon as possible. The four-day is coming up and we want to win that again”.
Russell, one of the stars of last year’s inaugural Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament, said he made himself available for the longer format so that he can get more time to work on both his batting and bowling.
“That kind of cricket will give me the chance to spend time at the crease and work on my batting. Playing the longer version will help me to improve my cricket,” said Russell, a regular member of the West Indies Twenty20 (T20) team.
“Batting in a four-day game I won’t be thinking about getting like 40 runs in 15 balls, I can actually build an innings. And in terms of bowling, I can relax some more and hit my areas”.
