Andre Russell returns as West Indies announce squad for Sri Lanka T20Is

T20I cricket is seen as the gateway drug in the modern era with cricketers from their respective teams giving absolutely everything by channelizing their aggression in the right path to produce match-winning performances. With T20 World Cup scheduled to be held this year, the cricket fraternity has witnessed several T20Is nowadays.

Above all, playing a handful of T20Is presents a perfect opportunity for the teams to build on their strengths and identify certain areas that need improving in the build-up to the showpiece event in October. Case in point, West Indies have announced the 14-man squad for the upcoming two-match T20I series versus Sri Lanka.

Both nations are battling it out at each other in the three-match ODI series. The first match has been done and dusted with Sri Lanka clinching the thriller by 1 wicket with five balls to spare. The second match is scheduled to be played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on February 26 (Wednesday). The third and final ODI will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on March 1 (Sunday).

Andre Russell to play his first T20I match since August 2018

Andre Russell, who hasn’t been in the national T20I set-up for a long time, will finally play his first T20I since August 2018. Oshane Thomas also made a return to the squad as the latter made a full recovery from a car accident in which he encountered recently. Now that, he is fully fit to play cricket, his sheer pace and deep penetration add a new dimension to the team’s bowling attack.

Shai Hope and Fabian Allen are the other two players who return to the squad having missed the most recent T20I series through injury. Shai Hope’s entry gives West Indies good options. Hope offers a great deal of attack apart from keeping the wickets. Fabian Allen is a handy spin bowling option besides adding depth to the batting brigade.

Meanwhile, the big-hitting player Shimron Hetmyer who was excluded for ODI selection has now met the required fitness level and made himself available for team selection for the T20I series. Hetmyer’s inclusion gives the team an incisive edge to go for big scores. The first T20I is scheduled to be played on March 4, Wednesday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele and the second one will be played at the same venue on March 6, Friday.

West Indies T20I squad vs Sri Lanka:

Kieron Pollard (C), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams