Andre Russell 'was expecting to be thrown under the bus'

Andre Russell still has ambitions of playing international cricket, and wants to win "another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies".

Russell has not played for West Indies since the T20 World Cup in November 2021. Last week, he responded to head coach Phil Simmons' statement that he would not be "begging" players to be available for West Indies, writing in a since-deleted Instagram post: "I know this was coming but am gonna stay quiet!!!" With four "angry" emojis thrown in.

Russell, who is currently in England playing for Manchester Originals in The Hundred, was asked about his position by Daren Sammy, the former West Indies captain, during Sky Sports' build-up to their game against Welsh Fire on Tuesday night.

"I'm going to be quiet, because at the end of the day, we had a discussion, and the discussion was very clear," Russell responded. "So now, making me look bad, throwing me under the bus… I was expecting it. I'm going to stay quiet, Daren, to be honest."

But when Sammy asked if he still wanted to play for the West Indies, Russell was emphatic in his assertion.

"Of course, of course. The maroon is all over," he said. "Honestly, I have two franchise hundreds and I wish those hundreds were actually playing for West Indies. I don't regret saying this just now. I really enjoyed playing for Jamaica Tallawahs but those two hundreds, it would be more special coming in international cricket.

"I always want to play and give back. But, at the end of the day, if we are not agreeing on certain terms, you terms is my terms [sic], and they have to respect my terms as well. At the end of the day, it is what it is. We have families and we have to make sure that we give our best opportunity while we have one career.

"It's not like I can start over again. I'm 34 and I want to win another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies because, at the end of the day, I'm here now, and I'm just taking it day by day."

Russell will leave The Hundred next week to play in the CPL for Trinbago Knight Riders, and Desmond Haynes, West Indies' lead selector, has suggested that performances in that tournament would be a major factor in World Cup selection.

"If there is a competition that is run by the West Indies [and] somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection," he said last week.