'Very comfortable using the new ball' - Russell

Andre Russell, the West Indies quick, has said opening the bowling for his team suits him. Russell set up West Indies' huge win in the first ODI against New Zealand in Kingston, striking with his first ball and carving up the visitors' top order with a three-wicket opening spell.

"I am very comfortable using the new ball," Russell said after the match. "I look forward to the opportunity. But we have a good balance in the team, anyone can start the attack; we have several options when it comes to the new ball. So it is all about what the team requires at that time.

"To bowl first at Sabina Park, I knew I would get assistance from whatever moisture was in the surface. I decided to run in with purpose, hit the deck hard and look for wickets. Before the match we said wickets with the new ball would be vital and my focus was on getting it right from the very start."

Russell, who returned to pick up another wicket and complete the fourth four-wicket haul of his 23-match ODI career, is coming off a short injury lay-off. He had hurt his shoulder during West Indies' first one-dayer against England in mid-June, and missed the rest of that series. He did not play the Twenty20 series against New Zealand in Florida either.

He was happy to hit stride right away, Russell said. "It was good to come back into the team after I missed the Twenty20 series in Florida and make an impression right away.

"After I came back from England I came here, did my homework, spent some time with my family, regrouped and got ready for this series. I came out today and wanted to do it for my home crowd. I will have another rethink and come back ready for business on Saturday."