Latest news with #WestIndians
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Andre Russell's Accusation: 'India Looks After Test Players, I Was Pushed Out...'
Last Updated: Andre Russell accused the West Indies of pushing him out of Test cricket by labeling him a white-ball specialist. All-rounder Andre Russell has accused the West Indies of 'pushing him out' of the Test set-up by boxing him as a white-ball specialist. The hard-hitting batter, who is considered one of the best to ever grace the IPL, said he has always believed in Test cricket and never turned his back on it till the time it was in his control. Russell made his Test debut before other formats, scoring two runs and taking a wicket against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2010. He never played red-ball international again, becoming an ODI and T20I specialist, and eventually a freelancer globe-trotting around various leagues. 'I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back… " Russell told The Guardian ahead of West Indies' T20I series against England, which got underway on Saturday '…I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that," he added. Told about Virat Kohli's now-famous comments after winning his first IPL trophy after 18 years — that it was still 'five levels' below Test cricket, which is the most respectable format — Russell said that wasn't the case for the West Indies. He said a big reason why cricketers in not just India but also Australia and England love to play Test cricket was because it paid well and allowed them to live a comfortable life. 'I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from West Indies," Russell said. 'Those guys (India, Australia and England) get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it. Of course, you want the possibility of living a comfortable life and taking care of your family," Russell said not discounting the financial advantages of playing in T20 leagues. First Published: June 07, 2025, 08:58 IST
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
IPL 5 levels below Test cricket? Russell disagrees with Kohli's comment
During his victory speech in the Indian Premier League, RCB batter Virat Kohli commented that the feeling of winning the tournament was five levels below the feeling of playing Test cricket. While the comment found widespread adulation from cricket fanatics, it did not find a fan in West Indies all-rounder Andre who has made his legacy across the T20 leagues in the world, said that cricketers from India, Australia and England get paid a lot of money for Test cricket, something that does not happen in the West Indies. Russell argued that if West Indian players were paid the same money as the top cricketers get paid for Test cricket, they would also love the think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from the West Indies,' Russell told The Guardian in an interview. IPL win five rungs below Test cricket: Virat Kohli'Those guys (India, Australia and England) get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it. Of course, you want the possibility of living a comfortable life and taking care of your family," he Russell said that he believed in the red-ball format, stating that he was a keen watcher of the game. Russell stated that as a professional cricketer, he did not regret Test cricket not being a part of his journey, but pointed out that it was not him who turned his back on the believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back,' Russell said.'I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that,' he all-rounder is currently in England, where West Indies are taking on England in a three-match series. Both teams are building for the T20 World Cup 2026, set to be played in India and Sri Watch
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Andre Russell's "Lucrative Central Contracts" Remark To Virat Kohli's Test Comment
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has reacted to Virat Kohli's comment of putting Test cricket above Indian Premier League title. Kohli's team Royal Challengers Bengaluru won its first-ever trophy in 18 seasons after defeating Punjab Kings in the recently-concluded final. The star player clinched his maiden IPL trophy despite playing for the franchise since the inaugural season in 2008. While it was a big achievement for Kohli, he still termed Test cricket "five levels" above that moment. "This moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket. So I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect," said Kohli after RCB won the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad on June 3. While reacting to Kohli's comment, Russell pointed out the reason what he believes propels the players from big cricketing nations to play Test cricket. The 37-year-old all-rounder, who has prioritised franchise cricket over international assignments, is set to return to the West Indies line-up for first time in around six months during the T20I series against England. "I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from West Indies," Russell told The Guardian. "Those guys get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests, and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it." Russell, a veteran cricketer who has featured in 56 ODIs, 83 T20Is and 551 T20s, has played only one Test match for Windies. His only appearance in West Indies whites came in 2010. "I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that," said Russell. "Honestly? No. I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back," he added. Listen to the latest songs, only on
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Andre Russell questions Virat Kohli's statement that IPL is five levels below Test cricket
Andre Russell has responded to Virat Kohli's comment calling IPL win 'five levels below' Test cricket. Russell suggested T20s are just as important and highlighted the challenges faced by West Indies players in red-ball cricket. read more West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has reacted to Virat Kohli's recent comment, where he said that winning the IPL is 'five levels below' Test cricket. Kohli had made this statement after winning his maiden IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Tuesday, 3 June. RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final by 6 runs. Kohli: IPL win five levels below Test cricket After the win, Kohli said, 'This moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket. So I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect.' Russell shared his thoughts in an interview with The Guardian, where he said that he doesn't look down on T20 cricket and believes it is just as important as any other format. Russell said that for players from the West Indies, the situation is not the same as for players from countries like India, Australia or England. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from West Indies,' Russell said. Russell explains why it's different for West Indies players He explained that in those countries, players get big central contracts and play on the biggest stages, so it makes sense that they would prioritise Test cricket. But in the West Indies, even if you play 50 or 100 Tests, there is often not much support from the local board after retirement. 'Those guys get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests, and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it,' Russell said. 'I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that,' he added. When asked if he had any regrets about not playing much Test cricket, Russell said, 'Honestly? No. I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Andre Russell spits bitter truth after Virat Kohli's Test comment post IPL win: 'They get lucrative central contracts'
Andre Russell has weighed in on the red-ball cricket debate after Virat Kohli's bold remark post-IPL triumph, where the Indian star rated the league title five levels below the significance of Test cricket. Russell, a T20 superstar, has only played one Test for West Indies and is more active in franchise leagues than international cricket. He has no regrets about the path he has chosen. Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket, ended his 18-year wait to lift the IPL trophy with RCB, but after the historic triumph, he had a chat with Matthew Hayden. The Indian maestro once again hyped the red-ball format in his chat with Hayden and downplayed his IPL achievement in front of playing Test cricket. "This moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket," Kohli said. Russell didn't hold back in sharing his honest point of view, stating that it's different to play for West Indies from other teams like India, Australia and England, where the players get lucrative annual contracts to play red-ball cricket. 'I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from West Indies,' says Russell. 'Those guys get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it," Russell told The Guardian. Andre Russell made his Test debut back in 2010 and, though he hasn't officially retired from the format, he never got another opportunity to don the whites for West Indies. The 37-year-old believes Cricket West Indies primarily viewed him as a white-ball specialist, which limited his chances in the red-ball game. However, he insists he has no regrets about how things unfolded. 'I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that.' Would he trade some of those sixes and franchise wins for a longer crack at Test cricket? Honestly? No. I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back," Russell said.
