“But those in the team now are fit enough and up for the challenge,” said Andre Russell.
Andre Russell is famous for his skills in T20 cricket. He has played for many teams around the world and is known for his powerful hitting and effective bowling. He has been a key player for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL for over ten years. Andre Russell plays T20s for the West Indies but has ruled out playing Test cricket and ODIs.
He started playing for the West Indies in 2007 but has only played 17 first-class matches and one Test back in 2010. He has also played 56 ODIs, with his last one being against Bangladesh during the 2019 ICC World Cup. The 36-year-old says he is dedicated to T20 cricket and admits he isn’t fit enough for Test cricket.
“Red-ball cricket isn’t for me. I don’t think my body can handle Test cricket. But those in the team now are fit enough and up for the challenge,” said Russell, as quoted by TOI.
I think a lot of players are just not interested in playing tests: Andre Russell
Russell is one of many players who have chosen to focus on white-ball cricket, especially T20s. Recently, players like Quinton de Kock, Hardik Pandya, and Haris Rauf have also expressed their preference for T20Is. Brian Lara, a former West Indies cricketer, pointed out that the big pay difference is why young Windies players aren’t interested in red-ball cricket. However, Russell disagrees, saying money isn’t the issue.
“I don’t think it’s about the money. With so many T20 players and leagues around the world, I think a lot of players just aren’t interested in playing Tests. If they can do well with contracts from outside their country, they’ll take that chance. But everyone wants to play on the big stage. So, if the big stage comes in Test cricket, I know youngsters will be happy to play. I just don’t think it’s about money or anything like that,” he added.