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High on his rampaging form in the IPL, West Indies hard-hitting batsman Andre Russell on Saturday said that he is "hungry to smash sixes" in the upcoming World Cup, beginning May 30 in UK.
Russell, who last played an ODI in July 2018, has been named in West Indies' 15-man preliminary squad and he is looking forward to continue his IPL form at the mega-event.
He has scored 406 runs in 10 innings at a startling strike rate of 209.27 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL.
Russell last featured in an ODI for the West Indies nearly a year ago during Bangladesh’s three-match tour of the Caribbean. He played just one game before pulling out of the series with a knee injury.
Recalled for the last two ODIs against England earlier this year, he failed to play a single game as the injury once again kept him at the bench.
Russell said he was not surprised at his selection.
When Asked about the allegations that the top Windies players face about focussing more on franchise cricket, Russell said: "They never know what it is to play with injuries and to play in situations where you're not comfortable. And if you keep playing for your country and you're not comfortable then the performances won't show as it always show here in franchise cricket.”
"I think that's where it should be more fun because we speak the same language, we can be yourself and stuff. That's why I'm so hungry right now to represent the West Indies because a lot of fans being saying all sort of things," he said.
On the appointment of Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt, Russell said, "I’m not a politician. So I don't get into the politics. I just play my cricket. At the end of the day, politics will always win over whatever. I don't get deep into that. Never met him before. Hope it's for the better of West Indies cricket."
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