COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Explosive all-rounder Andre Russell says he is targeting a big one-day series against Sri Lanka, and will be aiming to score his maiden One-Day International hundred and five-wicket haul in the three-match rubber.
Speaking on the heels of his stunning 89 off 54 balls in the one-day warm-up game on Thursday, Russell said he felt in good nick and believed if he could achieve his targets, then he could also help West Indies to a series win.
“At the moment I’m feeling strong. I had a long rest and I am happy to be back in international cricket, especially in the West Indies colours,” the Jamaican said.
“It means a lot to me so I would love to pick up some wickets as well, not just to contribute with my batting. I would love to get wickets, get a five-wicket haul in ODIs and those sort of things. I have a few goals for this series even though it’s a short one you have to have a goal sometimes.
“My goal is that I want a century in this format and also a five-wicket haul so if I can get that in this series then that would be good.”
He continued: “Once I score a hundred we’re going to be on top and if I get five, definitely we’re going to be on the front foot. Once I keep it that way, the maroon boys will come out on top.”
Playing in the warm-up game, Russell gave a preview of the way he intends to approach the upcoming one-day series when he blasted six stunning sixes and six fours, in a robust 193-run, eighth wicket partnership with Carlos Brathwaite who made a superb 113.
Known for his big hitting in Twenty20 cricket, Russell said he also planned to use the same approach in one-dayers.
“Once I’m in, I give myself a chance, see what the pitch is doing, obviously choose the right balls and that’s how I plan to bat for the rest of my career,” he explained.
“It’s not just in T20 cricket I’m going to be explosive. I’m going to play my shots, there’s no point blocking the ball you would normally get runs from. Positive is the way to go, choose the right balls and be smart about it.”
Russell said the big partnership with Brathwaite was a good sign for the future of the Windies batting.
“It was good to see we can put on big partnerships like those at the back end of an innings,” he noted.
“That’s a big positive to take away from the [warm-up] game and I hope that we can make it count in the one-dayers coming up.”
West Indies face Sri Lanka in the opening ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium tomorrow.
