MANCHESTER, England, CMC – Injury-plagued all-rounder Andre Russell is expected to sit out West Indies’ do-or-die World Cup encounter against New Zealand today.
Included in the squad despite a chronic knee injury that has tormented him in recent years, the 31-year-old has struggled throughout the tournament and has failed to last a single game.
Yet again, Russell was in visible pain during West Indies’ seven-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Taunton last Monday, and Holder told a media conference Friday he was unlikely to suit up.
“We’ve still got a few niggles within the group. We’re trying to manage niggles the best we possibly can,” Holder said.
“I think one guy who probably maybe definitely out tomorrow is Russell. I don’t think he’s fit enough to go tomorrow, but everybody else should be good to go.”
Russell is viewed by West Indies management as a match-winner but his lack of fitness has been palpable, leading to questions being raised about his continued inclusion in the side.
He has bowled only 19 overs in four matches and taken five wickets, and his batting has also failed to live up to expectations, yielding a mere 36 runs from three innings.
Russell has been one several fitness concerns in the Windies camp with fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and opener Evin Lewis also sidelined with injury early in the tournament.
Holder acknowledged there were a few fitness issues ahead of the New Zealand encounter but none were serious enough to rule players out of contention.
“It’s a situation where we’re trying to manage them as best we possibly can,” he explained.
“I think it’s normal for every cricket team to have lots of niggles going around, but we have quite a few of them, and we’re just trying to manage them as best we can.”
