According to ESPNcricinfo, all-rounder Andre Russell will represent West Indies for the final time at his home ground Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Included in the 16-man squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, Russell is expected to announce his international retirement on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old cricketer has played 84 T20Is, 56 One-Day Internationals, as well as one Test match for the West Indies, and was a part of both teams which captured the 2012 and 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
His retirement comes seven months before the next T20 World Cup, which will be staged in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026.
Russell is set to become the second high-profile West Indies player, after Nicholas Pooran, to retire from international cricket in less than two months.
Teenager Jewel Andrew of Antigua and Barbadian Jediah Blades 23, earned their maiden call-ups to the West Indies T20I squad. In CPL 2024, at 17 years and 266 days, Andrew had become the youngest West Indian and second youngest overall to score a fifty in a major T20 league. Andrew is currently part of Guyana Amazon Warriors in the ongoing Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana.
As for Blades, he has not played the CPL so far but had impressed with the new ball during the inaugural West Indies breakout league, a tournament that was held recently to identify emerging talent from the region. Shai Hope will continue to lead the side, which also includes Rovman Powell.
“Our goals and strategic plans are aligned to winning the T20 World Cup in 2026,” coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “We have continuity in the squad from the previous series and as a unit we will continue to fine tune our style and brand ahead of the World Cup.”
“Our previous two T20 series at home we were on the wrong end of the results but starting against Australia, we want to regain our form at home as we build momentum into next year’s World Cup with our exciting and dynamic group of players.” (ESPNcricinfo/BT)
West Indies Squad
Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
Team Management
Head Coach: Daren Sammy, Team Manager: Rawl Lewis, Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer, Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul, Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith, Physiotherapist: Dr Denis Byam, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers, Massage Therapist: Darc Browne, Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram, Media & Content Officer: Jerome Foster.
1st T20I: July 20 – Sabina Park, Jamaica, 2nd T20I: July 22 – Sabina Park, Jamaica, 3rd T20I: July 25 – Warner Park, St. Kitts, 4th T20I: July 26 – Warner Park, St. Kitts, 5th T20I: July 28 – Warner Park, St. Kitts
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