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Star West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will be making his Melbourne Stars debut on Friday but will have to follow a strict set of rules to take the field against Sydney Thunder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 10. The veteran Caribbean won't be allowed to touch his teammates. Moreover, Russell will have a different gate for making an entry, will be using a different lift and will have even a set up for his own in the dressing room.
Moreover, it is being learnt that Russell will have to stay a minimum of two metres away from the players and support staff, with his dugout being a different one than the remaining players. The Kolkata Knight Riders star has further been instructed to not get involved in high fives after getting wickets and he will even be using a separate microphone during interviews with television broadcasters.
After leaving the stadium premises, Russell will once again be in quarantine and will only be able to join them after seven days of isolated stay. Reports in Fox Sports suggest that Cricket Australia has designed such rules and the same will be communicated to the Stars. The rules are being implemented in consideration of the health and well-being of the cricketers in the Coronavirus pandemic.
A lot of guys yet to turn up: Maxwell hints at Russell and others inclusion
Meanwhile, Stars captain Glenn Maxwell reflected on the injuries his side has sustained in the BBL so far and how Russell's inclusion will strengthen their side.
"We've had a lot of injuries, a lot of guys yet to turn up," Stars captain Glenn Maxwell had said after his teams' defeat against Sydney Sixers.
"It's just put us behind where we would like to be for round one, but you can't win the tournament from round one. We're hoping (Marcus Stoinis) is going to be back next week. We've got (Nathan) Coulter-Nile, Joe Burns, Qais Ahmad... another overseas signing (Russell), so we've got plenty of options," he added.
Overall, the 33-year-old has featured in 387 T20 matches, accumulating 6430 runs and scalping 343 wickets. Despite batting several injuries in the recent past, he remains a towering figure especially in the shortest form of the game.