Ian Healy spoke about Andre Russell’s batting position and feels that cost West Indies the match.
Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has recently lashed out at allrounder Andre Russell for his disappointing returns in the second T20I between Australia and West Indies.
Russell started the final over of Australia’s innings with a high full toss, which was swung by Tim David for a six. He kept missing his mark and a belligerent Glenn Maxwell made him pay for it. The WI allrounder went for 25 runs in his final over and his final figures read 4-0-59-0.
Healy felt that Russell was bowling shin-high full tosses, which was rubbish. Talking to SENQ Breakfast, he said, “He was bowling rubbish. He didn’t have to target him. He was bowling him shin-high full tosses.
The Aussies won the match by 34 runs thanks to a brutal 120 not out from Glenn Maxwell, and he took a particular liking to Russell’s bowling throughout his innings.
“He was bowling rubbish,” Healy said on SENQ Breakfast.
“He didn’t have to target him. He was bowling him shin-high full tosses.
“Then he’d bowl a wide one which he (Maxwell) would carve up, which is one of his great shots.
“Then he’d walk across, he (Maxwell) would get a half volley on leg stump, and he’d flick it for six.
“Andre got aggressive, but he should get aggressive at himself because that was absolute poo.”
With a huge target of 242 set, Healy was also disappointed to see the big hitter bat at number seven where he made 37 from 16 balls.
While he hit six boundaries in his cameo, Healy thinks Russell should have batted in the top four and he described that call from the West Indies as pathetic.
“Where did he bat? Lower than midfield, he batted seven,” Healy said.
“That’s ridiculous. But he’s obviously selfish and that’s all he’s batting at. Otherwise, you’d have him at four, especially in a run-chase like that.
“It’s pathetic that the West Indies underuse him like we have underused Tim David in the past, but they’re slowly moving him up behind Maxwell.”
Russell will hope to bounce back when the West Indies face Australia in the third T20 in Perth on Tuesday night.