Melbourne: Rumours of the demise of West Indies cricket seemed greatly exaggerated after the crushing defeat of Pakistan on Saturday and it was a member of the new generation in Andre Russell that breathed new life into the islanders’ World Cup.The mohawked all-rounder earned man-of-the-match for blasting 42 from just 13 balls against Pakistan’s hapless death bowlers then following up with three wickets in the 150-run thrashing in Christchurch.
Long-suffering fans of West Indies cricket have grown wary of false dawns, but Russell’s performance will have given them some hope the team can move on from a crippling dispute over players’ contracts.
It was also further evidence of the talent that abounds in the clutch of island nations and that critics lament is often left to wither on the vine.
Twenty-six year-old Russell has played 45 one-day internationals, earning man-of-the-match honours five times, but boasts a solitary test on his resume way back in 2010 when a callow 22-year-old.
The door has been slammed ever since, as it has been for a number of West Indies’ more exciting talents in the shorter formats, including all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who was omitted from the World Cup squad after the contracts crisis.