Russell back to PSL after serving ICC ban

DUBAI: Back from a year of wilderness West Indies all rounder Andre Russell feels he returns to top cricket with much mature frame of mind.Russell who played a lead role in bringing the opening PSL edition Trophy to Islamabad United rejoined the team Friday after serving one year ban for violating ICC whereabouts clause.

“It has been really tough. Watching the game when you are fit not injured and still you cannot play had been a strange feeling. The lost time however has given me maturity. And now I feel and realize that I can offer more to the game of Cricket to what I gave previously.”

He said he did not lost heart during the ban which started from January 2017 and kept on playing and training privately. “I did not lose heart and did all I can with the help of bowling machine and amateur cricketers to keep myself ready and best of groove.”

The hard hitting Russell said he learnt more about the game as a spectator. “Sometime the best players are spectators and that is the reason I learn more about the game as spectator. Staying at the wicket now I feel is as important as hitting the ball. I hope that this new understanding of the game would help me more in future.”

He said since he had played as an all rounder his efforts would be to contribute in all departments. “My hunger for big scores, wickets and even holding good catches even has grown more. So what I want is to contribute in all these departments.”