Andre Russell Announces Retirement from International Cricket, Bids Farewell After Final Two Matches Against…
Andre Russell announces international retirement after T20Is vs Australia, ending a career with 145 West Indies matches
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has announced his retirement from international cricket. His final matches will be the first two T20Is against Australia at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Russell, 36, will bring the curtain down on a 14-year international career that started in 2010. He was part of the West Indies’ T20 World Cup-winning squads in 2012 and 2016.
In T20Is, Russell played 84 matches, scoring 1,078 runs at a strike rate of 163.08. He hit three fifties with a top score of 71 and also took 61 wickets with best figures of 3/19.
He played 56 ODIs until 2019, scoring 1,034 runs at a strike rate of over 130. He also took 70 wickets, with best bowling figures of 4/35. His only Test appearance came in 2010.
Speaking about his retirement, Russell said:
“Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life. When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realize what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others.”
He added, “I love playing for the West Indies and I love playing at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances. I want to finish my international career on a high while being a role model for the next generation of cricketers coming out of the Caribbean.”
While his international numbers are solid, Russell made his biggest impact in franchise T20 cricket. Over 561 T20 matches, he has scored 9,316 runs at a strike rate of over 168, with two centuries and 33 fifties. He also took 485 wickets, with best figures of 5/15.
Most recently, he played for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the 2025 Major League Cricket season, scoring 126 runs and picking up 10 wickets. His team, however, finished last in the table.
Russell’s retirement comes ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. He is the second big West Indies name to retire recently, following Nicholas Pooran.
West Indies squad for T20Is against Australia:
Shai Hope (C), 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.
